▪ I. ˈvary, n.
Also 7 varie, 8 varry.
[f. vary v.]
A variation; † a hesitation or vacillation.
| 1600 E. B. in Engl. Helicon B iv b, When the sunshine which dissolv'd the snow Culloured the bubble with a pleasant vary. 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. ii. 85 (Q.1), And turne their halcion beakes With euery gale and varie of their maisters. 1739 A. Nicol Nat. without Art 80 I'm at a varry Whether to keep free, or marry. 1929 R. Bridges Testament of Beauty i. 26 We should not in the field of Reason look to find less vary and veer than elsewhere in the flux of Life. |
▪ II. † ˈvary, a. Obs.
In 4, 6 varye.
[ad. L. vari-us: see various a.]
Particoloured, variegated.
| 1382 Wyclif Gen. xxxi. 10 Y..sawȝ in sleep the malis..varye, and spotti, and of dyuers colours. Ibid. 12. 1570 Levins Manip. 107 Varye, varius. |
▪ III. vary, v.
(ˈvɛərɪ)
Forms: 4–7 varie, 5–6 varye (5 varyen, -yn), 5– vary (5–6 Sc. wary); 6 varrie, varry, varrey.
[ad. OF. (also mod.F.) varier, or L. variāre, f. vari-us various a. Cf. Sp. and Pg. variar, It. variare.]
I. intr.
1. Of things: To undergo change or alteration; to pass from one condition, state, etc., to another, esp. with frequent or ready change or difference within certain limits.
| c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 802 For al my werkes were flyttyng That tyme, and al my thought varyeng. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 1725, I not what doth enclyne Ȝoure worþines sodeinly to varie. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 116 For they [sc. the vines] from fruit to bareynesse wol vary When they be sette. 1508 Dunbar Poems iv. 9 The stait of man dois change & vary, Now sound, now seik, now blyth, now sary. 1608 Shakes. Per. iii. Prol. 47 Their vessel shakes On Neptune's billow;..but fortune's mood Varies again. 1617 Moryson Itin. iv. v. i. (1903) 461 The first hower after the Sunne is sett, strikes one, the Noone or midday varyeth daily as the Sunne doth his setting. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 436 We met with black dismal weather, with tempestuous winds, varying all around the Compass. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest vi, La Motte's complexion varied to every sentence of his speech. 1828 Duppa Trav. Italy, etc. 21 The view [along this road] is constantly varying. 1859 Darwin Orig. Spec. i. 7 When the organisation has once begun to vary, it generally continues to vary for many generations. 1880 Geikie Phys. Geog. ii. 46 The quantity of water-vapour in the air varies from day to day, and, indeed, from hour to hour. |
b. Const. from or between (specified limits).
| 1828 Duppa Trav. Italy, etc. 128 During this week the thermometer varied only from 60° to 62° of Fahrenheit. 1843 Sir C. Scudamore Med. Visit Grä fenberg 31 The very large number of patients on his list, varying from two to five hundred. 1852 H. Rogers Ecl. Faith (1853) 380 Men's Gods have varied between the infinite Creator and a monkey. |
c. To break off by change.
| 1881 Tylor Anthropol. i. (1904) 10 No other explanation is possible but that an ancient parent language gave rise to them all, they having only varied off from it in different directions. |
2. To differ, to exhibit or present divergence, from something else.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 6213 For varie her wordis fro her deede They thenke on gile without dreede. 1490 Caxton Eneydos Prol. 2 And certaynly our langage now vsed varyeth ferre from that whiche was vsed and spoken whan I was borne. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures (1574) 56 b, An other particion may be made betweene parceners, that varieth from the particions aforesayde. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. vi. vii. (1622) 131 That that bird [the Phœnix]..differeth in the beake, and varieth of feathers from other birds. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xix. lxxxix, Those feigned armes he forst me to deuize, So that from yours but small or nought they varrie [rime carrie]. 1823 H. J. Brooke Introd. Crystallogr. 189 Other oblique rhombic prisms, varying from the primary. 1842 Gwilt Archit. §2104 Rebate planes vary from bench planes in having no tote or handle [etc.]. 1891 Law Times XCII. 96/1 This edition varies very little from its predecessor published in 1887. |
b. Without const.
| 1530 Palsgr. 765/1, I dare promesse you our bookes vary nat. 1564 Day tr. P. Martyr's Comm. Bk. Judges 175 Yet was not god chaunged, but the condicion of men varyed. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvii. 181 Howsoeuer mens opinions doe otherwise varie, neuerthelesse touching Baptisme..we may with consent of the whole Christian world conclude [etc.]. 1611 Bible 1 Esdr. v. 9 marg., Nehem. 7. 9, where..looke for the true numbers:..here they vary much. 1815 Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 17 This bird is said to vary very much, and Marcgrave mentions one which had the wing-coverts plain brown. 1854 Ronalds & Richardson Chem. Technol. (ed. 2) I. 8 The specific gravity of wood has been observed to vary in the same variety;..it is not even the same in different parts of the same tree. 1868 Lockyer Elem. Astron. §22 The first thing which strikes us when we look at the stars is, that they vary very much in brightness. |
c. ellipt. To deviate from the true North.
| 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. ii. vi. 67 The upper Compass doth represent the true Compass that never varieth, whereby you have a most necessary Instrument to rectifie the Compass. |
3. Of persons: To differ, diverge, or depart, in respect of practice or observance (from some standard). Also const. † of.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 301 Þe secte of macamethe takiþ meche of cristis secte, but it varieþ in som rewele & in cloþis. ― Sel. Wks. III. 345 Þes newe ordris..varien in Goddis office fro þat þat Crist bad his preestis do. c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame ii. 299 And who so seyth of trouthe I varye Bid hym proven the contrarye. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xiii. 60 In many poyntes þai vary fra vs and fra oure faith. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 131 Suche folke whiche..Dare to theyr wyfes be nat contrarye, Ne from theyr lustes dare not varye. 1533 J. Heywood Pardoner & Friar A j, Knyfe nor staffe may we none cary, Except we shulde from the gospell vary. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 227 He was forced..to lyue in a straunge lande among people that..varyed from his maners. 1621 T. Williamson tr. Goulart's Wise Vieillard A 4 b, I hope I haue hit of his meaning, though I vary from his wordes, as all Translators must doe. 1680 W. Allen Peace & Unity 91 In varying from these [appointments] was the sin of those Men. 1713 M. Henry Ord. Serm. Wks. 1857 II. 498/2 As God never varies from himself, so he never wavers in himself. 1723 Chambers tr. Le Clerc's Treat. Archit. I. 9 Scamozzi is the only Author who varies from the rule. 1809 Roland Fencing 123 Many persons..are very apt, when parrying carte and tierce, to vary from the usual parades made upon this occasion. |
† b. To be deprived of something. Obs.—1
| 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. ii. (Skeat) l. 194, I shal him enfourme of al the trouthe in thy love, with thy conscience; so that of his helpe thou shalt not varye at thy nede. |
† c. To depart from the truth. Obs.—1
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 131 But my foode and my cherisshynge, To telle plainly and not to varye, Is of suche folke. |
d. Sc. To wander in mind; to rave. ? Obs.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxi. 12 This is ane felloun phary, Or ellis my witt rycht woundrouslie dois varie. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. Prol. 101 My febill wit I wary, My desie heid quhome laik of brane gart vary. ? a 1550 Droichis Part Play in Dunbar's Poems (1893) 314 Bot ȝit I trow that I vary, I am bot ane Blynd Hary, That lang hes bene with the fary. 1825 Jamieson, To vary, vairie, applied to one who exhibits the first symptoms of delirium, as the effect of bodily disorder; as, ‘I observed him vairyin' the day,’ Ettr. For[est]. |
† 4. To differ in respect of statement; to give a different or divergent account. Obs.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 425 Here take heed þat auctors varieþ, for William seiþ.., but Marianus and Beda telleþ [etc.]. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 187 Nat purposyng to moche for to varie, Nor for to be dyuerse nor contrarie Vn-to Guydo. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 207 And scho onswerd..and tolde hym all þyng, and varyet yn no poynt. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. v. (1533) 33 b, Of the firste commyng of these Saxons into great Britayn, authours in party varrey. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 175/1, I wil beleue him muche better than hym..if thei varyed in a tale and were contrary. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 477 We will..adde thereunto [the account of] Oppianus: for he doth vary in both of them. |
b. Const. from (another or each other). In later use, to depart from an author by some change of statement.
| a 1513 Fabyan Chron. ii. (1811) 29 The wryters of the Story..wryten dyuersly, so that the one varyeth greatly from the other. 1577 Holinshed Chron. I. 116/2 William Malmes. wryting of this Vortimer..varyeth in a maner al⁓togither from Geffrey of Monmouth. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 315, I have in..other places varied some⁓what from him. 1700 Dryden Pref. Fables Poet. Wks. (1910) 275, I durst not make thus bold with Ovid; lest some future Milbourn should arise, and say, I varied from my Author, because I understood him not. 1826 Southey Vind. Eccl. Angl. 256 Later writers, therefore, found it expedient to vary from him in describing the catastrophe. |
† 5. To differ in opinion, to disagree (about, for, in, or of something); to dissent from another. Obs.
| ? 1428 Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905) 13 Yf the said parsons, wardeyns & iiij parisshens of the said Chirch..varye of their said chosyng of the same preest..& can nat accorde. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 28 Remembre wele on olde January,..and how Justyne did vary Fro placebo. 1516 Sel. Cases Star Chamb. (Selden) II. 108 The seid parties haue varied also in the namyng of Auditours for heryng and takyng of accomptes. 1527 Gardiner Let. Wolsey in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) I. App. 71 At these words the Popes Ho. casting his armes abrode, bad us put in the words we varyed for. 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love A iiij, Where about men presently so greatly strive and varie. 1608 Topsell Serpents 68 Which sound, whether it proceedeth from the mouth, or from the motion of their winges: Aristotle and Hesychius do much vary and contend. 1657 S. Purchas Pol. Flying-Ins. 55 Give mee leave to vary from so learned an Author, and diligent observer. |
† b. To disagree seriously, to discord or quarrel; to fall at variance. Obs.
| c 1440 Alph. Tales 118 Þer was ij brether þat dwelte samen many yeris, & þai varid neuer nor neuer was wrothe. c 1500 Communycacyon (W. de W.) C j, And yf thou be a lytell dyspleased Thou cursed & varyest bothe nyght & daye. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccx. [ccvi.] 650 They never varyed nor their people toguyder, therfore they reigned in great puissaunce. 1577 Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 350 Men fell out among themselues. Wherefore, how, when, and vpon what occasion they varied, I am now about to declare. |
† c. To quarrel or be at strife with, to contend against, another. Obs.
| 1496 Cov. Leet Bk. 581 That no maner persone..vexe, troble, assaute nor varie with eny his Neighbours. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cxcv. [cxci.] 598 If euer Flaunders and Brabant shulde vary agaynst the crowne of Fraunce. a 1529 Skelton Dk. Albany 341 If our moost royall Harry Lyst with you to varry, Full soone ye should miscary. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Jas. I. Scot. vii, We wer driuen to the English coast, Which realme with Skotland at that time did vary. |
† d. spec. In University use: (see quot. 1749).
| 1680 Wood Life (O.H.S.) II. 490 July 8, Th., Mr. [John] Conant varied. A great entertainment in the gallery. 1685 Ibid. 23 July, Mr. Slatter varied, being put off till that time because he had got a mischance. 1749 J. Pointer Oxon. Acad. 18 The Master-Fellows are oblig'd by their Statutes to take their turns, every Year about the Act Time, or at least before the 1st Day of August, to vary,..i.e. to perform some publick Exercise in the Common-Hall, the Variator opposing Aristotle, in three Latin Speeches. |
6. † a. To be uncertain; to hesitate. Obs.—1
| c 1477 Caxton Jason (1913) 53 Thus in varyieng in this doubte she approched the loggyse. |
b. To change or alter in respect of conduct. † Also with inf.
| 1481 Caxton Godfrey lxxix. (chapter heading), How the duc that was at Rages varyed for to holde this that he had promysed to Bawdwyn. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccxviii. 278 All they of his counsaile coude not make hym to vary fro that pourpose. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. lxxi. viii, As for me, resolv'd to tary In my trust, and not to vary, I will heape thy praise with praise. 1780 J. Moore View Soc. Fr. I. i, Our young friend seemed confirmed in his resolutions and gave me fresh assurances..that he never would vary. |
c. To move in different ways or directions.
| 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 516 As when a Ship..Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile; So varied hee. |
7. a. To be inconsistent in one's statements; to introduce a difference or discrepancy.
| 1557 Seager Sch. Virtue 526 in Babees Bk., See here he [sc. Aristotle] doth vary. Refuse not his councell, Nor his wordes dispise. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 139 They had alledged..that the byshop Clement varied in his sentence, and had declared to the Frenche king in priuate talke, what he thought. 1637 Prynne Documents (Camden) 79 For drawing wittnesses to varie from their former depositions. 1639 S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 329 She is examined hereupon, and varies in her first answer, being pressed further she acknowledgeth it in her second. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Vary,..to falter in one's Answers; to disagree with, or differ from one's self. |
b. Law. To make a departure in pleading.
| 1642 tr. Perkins' Prof. Bk. ii. §121. 54 The plaintiffe shall take nothing by his writ, because he cannot varie from the place dated in the obligation. |
II. trans.
8. To cause to change or alter; to introduce changes or alterations into (something); in later use freq., to adapt to certain circumstances or requirements by appropriate modifications.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 200 We han, ludus, of ȝour lif listned ful ofte, Þat michil ben ȝour manerus from oþur men varied. 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xxxviii. 28 Whyche grauede grauen broochis, and the bysynesse of hym varieth the peynture. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. iii. xxiv. (W. de W. 1495) 73 Hote ayre and colde and drye and temperate varye and chaunge the pulse. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. (Dallaway) p. lxxxvii, The bordir of thys cros is variet as well from the coloure of the cros as fro the coloure of the felde. 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 118 Shall we varie our deuice at will, Euen as new occasion appeares? 1614 Selden Titles Honor 252 The name of Vigniers..is the same with Vicarij, both but varying the word Vicecomes. 1653 W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 227 Your rules being varied according to art and discretion. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 595 But thou, the more he varies Forms, beware To strain his Fetters with a stricter Care. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 331 They had not varied their course in the dark. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. I. i. 150 Words..we can twist and vary as we please. 1802 Paley Nat. Theol. i. i. §1 (1819) 4 Nor can I perceive that it varies at all the inference. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. i. v, He had never varied his ground an inch. 1891 Act 54 & 55 Vict. c. 66 §16 The court, after such notice,..may vary such order in such manner..as it may think fit. |
† b. To change the form of (a word) grammatically. Obs.
| 1648 Gage West Ind. 214 So likewise are varied or declined Abix, signifying a plantation, Acal earth. |
c. To dispose, obtain, occupy, in a manner characterized by variety or variation.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 609 The setting Sun survey,..If dusky Spots are vary'd on his Brow [etc.]. 1748 Anson's Voy. i. vi. 59 We varied our depths from fifty to eighty fathom. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 7 ¶9 To vary a whole week with joy, anxiety, and conjecture. |
† 9. To express in different words. Obs.
| 1580 G. Harvey in Spenser's Wks. (1912) 626, I gaue him this Theame out of Ouid, to translate, and varie after his best fashion. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. i. i. 294 Clo. This was no Damosell neyther sir, shee was a Virgin. Fer. It is so varried to, for it was proclaimed Virgin. 1599 ― Hen. V, iii. vii. 35 The man hath no wit, that cannot..varie deserued prayse on my Palfray. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 184 Let your ceasless change Varie to our great Maker still new praise. 1682 J. Flavel Fear 8 They are at their wits end,..or as it is varied in the margin all wisdom is swallowed up. |
| absol. 1583 Lyly in T. Watson Poems (Arb.) 30 In that so aptly you haue varied vppon women,..confesse I must [etc.]. |
† 10. To set at variance. Obs.—1
| 1795 Burke Corr. Wks. 1842 II. 240 When his Grace..brought out the vapid stuff, which had varied the clubs and disgusted the courts. |
▪ IV. vary
obs. Sc. form of wary v. (curse).