▪ I. varying, vbl. n.
(ˈvɛərɪɪŋ)
[f. vary v.]
The action of the verb, in various senses.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 141 Here telliþ Crist to his Chirche how þer wille shulde be temprid for variynge of þer heed after his resureccioun. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 9591 For that ye this othre day Supposed in me such variyng Whan it was told you of my wedding. c 1440 Gesta Rom. xlviii. 218 (Add. MS.), I chaunge to the tymes, to do away the variynges. 1530 Palsgr. 284/1 Varyeng, chaungyng, muance. 1533 J. Heywood Johan B j b, I gyue you good leue To chastyce her for her shreude varyeng. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. 244 The Nowns haue so little varying or turning in them. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 48 Sinne (sayth the Apostle..) Is a varying from the Law. a 1695 Marquis of Halifax Wks. (1912) 211 Neither King nor People would now like just the original Constitution, without any varyings. 1771 Luckombe Hist. Printing 237 The varying of proper names, may be owing to the fancy of some Author..[who] ordered them to be distinguished by different characters from the Text. 1825 Carlyle Schiller ii. (1845) 97 Those careless felicities, those varyings from high to low. 1829 Scott Anne of G. xxiv, Had my plighted vows..ever permitted me to entertain a thought of varying, or of defection. 1901 Wrench Winchester Word-bk., Varying, a vulgus done up to books. (obs.) |
▪ II. varying, ppl. a.
(ˈvɛərɪɪŋ)
[f. as prec.]
1. That varies, in senses of the verb; tending to vary or change. † Also const. from.
| c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 1413 Þe life of þis world es ful unstable, And ful variand and chaungeable. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xcviii. (Bodl. MS.), Þe apple tre is rounde diuers and varying fro oþer trees of wodes. a 1400–50 Alexander 4637 Of all þe frutis on þe fold we fange at oure will, Bath venyson & volatile & variand fisches. c 1480 Henryson Fables, Paddock & Mouse x, With mynd Inconstant, fals, and wariand, Full of desait. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlviii. 1 Quhen Merche wes with variand windis past. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxvii. 48 Gif scho steidfast stand, And be not wariand, I am at hir command. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 170 He..with his varying child-nesse, cures in me Thoughts, that would thick my blood. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. agst. Woman Wks. 1730 I. 57, I strive in vain the varying crimes to trace, Of this salacious and destructive race. 1751 Gray Spring 37 In fortune's varying colours drest. 1798 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 114 With a varying complexion, and timid air, [he] enquired for her mother. 1815 Shelley Alastor 96 That scene of ampler majesty Than gems or gold, the varying roof of heaven. 1846 G. E. Day tr. Simon's Anim. Chem. II. 168 The varying amounts..excreted during equal periods by different persons. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. §5. 509 The struggle..went on throughout his reign with varying success. |
b. spec. in Path.
| 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 476 Varying squint and ptosis are very common during the irritative and pressure stages. |
† 2. Varied in colour; variegated. Obs.
| 1488 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 85 A couering of variand purpir tartar browdin with thrissillis and a vnicorne. Ibid. 163 Thre elne and dimid. of varyande tartar. |
3. varying hare, a species of hare, inhabiting northern or elevated regions, the fur of which turns white in winter; the Alpine, blue, or mountain hare.
The American varying hare (Lepus Americanus) is a variety of the Polar hare (L. glacialis).
| 1781 Pennant Hist. Quadrup. II. 370 Varying Hare. 1823 Crabb Technol. Dict. s.v. Hare, The varying Hare, Lepus variabilis, turns white in the Winter. 1849 Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia IV. 158 The Alpine or varying hare inhabits certain districts of our island, namely, the northern parts of Scotland. 1880 Encycl. Brit. XI. 476/2 In those parts where the common hare does not occur, its place is taken by the varying or mountain hare (Lepus variabilis). |
Hence ˈvaryingly adv.
| c 1862 Gladstone Farew. Addr., Edinb. Univ. 19 In modes, and in degrees, varyingly perceptible to us. 1882 F. T. Palgrave in Grosart Spenser's Wks. IV. p. xxxv, Spenser sees life..through more than one veil, always, though varyingly, conventional in character. |