varied, ppl. a.
(ˈvɛərɪd)
[f. vary v.]
1. Differing from one another; of different or various sorts or kinds.
| 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 86 Where like a sweet mellodius bird it sung Sweet varied notes inchanting euery eare. ― L.L.L. v. ii. 775 Varying in subiects as the eie doth roule, To euerie varied obiect in his glance. 1718 Prior Solomon i. 350 How shall We next o'er Earth and Seas pursue The vary'd Forms of ev'ry thing we view. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 268 The very birds and quadrupeds, which are more beautiful, and of species more varied, in islands than any where else. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. x. 181 So varied, extensive and pervading are human distresses. 1878 Stewart & Tait Unseen Univ. ii. §76. 87 That astronomy is competent to explain the varied motions of the heavenly bodies. 1880 Grove's Dict. Music II. 567 The art of adapting musical ideas to the varied capabilities of Stringed, Wind, Keyed, and other Instruments. |
2. Marked by variation or variety; presenting different forms or qualities on this account.
| 1732 Pope Ess. Man i. 27 Observe..what other planets circle other suns, What vary'd Being peoples ev'ry star. 1748 Gray Alliance 27 Howe'er opinion tinge the varied Mind. 1784 Cowper Task i. 172 The sloping land..Displaying, on its varied side, the grace Of hedge-row beauties numberless. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xiv, When I behold..this rich and varied land, with its castles, churches,..and fertile fields. 1838 James Robber iv, The path she followed was like a varied but a pleasant life. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 252 Sketching the boat and her sails in their varied action. |
b. poet. Of the Deity or persons.
| a 1748 Thomson Hymn 2 These, as they change, Almighty Father, these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of thee. 1763 Churchill Apology Poems I. 68 The varied actor flies from part to part. |
3. Vari-coloured, variegated; esp. in the names of birds or animals.
| 1715 Pope Iliad iv. 225 Stiff with the rich embroider'd work around, My varied belt repell'd the flying wound. 1781 Pennant Hist. Quad. I. 195 Varied Monkey. Ibid. II. 413 Varied Squirrel..: upper part of the body varied with black, white, and brown. 1782 Latham Gen. Synop. Birds. I. ii. 568 Varied Woodpecker. 1817 Stephens in Shaw Gen. Zool. X. ii. 333 Senegal Flycatcher... Varied Flycatcher, with white eye-brows, and the outer tail-feathers half white. 1861 Chambers's Encycl. II. 726/1 Varied Monkey (Cercopithecus Mona)—an African species. 1891 Cent. Dict. s.vv. Pickerel, Shrike, Thrush. |
4. Comb. in varied-coloured, varied-winged adjs.
| 1811 Shaw Gen. Zool. VIII. ii. 420 Varied-winged Parrakeet... Green Parrakeet, with blue crown, and wing-coverts varied with black, blue, and yellow. 1818 P. Hervé How to Enjoy Paris (ed. 2) 18 A little messenger of comfort, clad in varied-coloured rags. 1845 J. Coulter Adv. in Pacific xiv. 215 The varied-coloured bright feathers of the ground-parrot. |