a. and sb. Forms: 4– variable (5–6 varri-, 6 Sc. vareable), 5, Sc. 6, -abill, Sc. 6 -abil (warieabill), 5–6 varyable, 6 -abul, 5 uaryabyl, veryabyll. [a. OF. variable (F., Sp., and Prov. variable, Pg. variavel, It. variabile), ad. L. variābilis, f. variāre to VARY.]
A. adj. 1. Liable or apt to vary or change; (readily) susceptible or capable of variation; mutable, changeable, fluctuating, uncertain.
a. Of the course of events, the state of things, etc.
c. 1397. Chaucer, Lack Stedf., 8. What made this worlde to be so variable But louste þat folke haue in discencion?
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 5424. In a state that is not stable, But chaungynge ay and variable.
1448–9. J. Metham, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 54. Thy uaryabyl squel,… O fortune! brent myght be With Pluto in helle.
1483. Caxton, Cato, g iiij. For the goodes of thys worlde been varyable; now one is ryche and now poure.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., 51. They nothing thynke on fortune var[i]able.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (1550), 34. The Englyshe affaires … began to wauer, and waxe variable.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 119. Some joining in skirmish with the enemies, fought with variable event. Ibid. (1610), Camden’s Brit., 696. They had continued a doubtfull and variable fight a great part of the day.
b. Of feeling, conduct, etc.
c. 1480. Henryson, Orpheus & Eurydice, 287. Quhat art thou, lufe,… To sum constant, till othir variabil.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 114. So variable and vnconstant is the nature of man.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. ii. 111. O sweare not by the Moone,… Least that thy Loue proue likewise variable. Ibid. (1596), Merch. V., II. viii. 13. I neuer heard a passion so confusd, So strange, outragious, and so variable.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 92. His heart I know, how variable and vain Self-left.
1849. Ruskin, Seven Lamps, vii. § 7. 191. The decorations … might be made subjects of variable fancy.
1862. H. Spencer, First Princ., I. v. § 29 (1875), 102. There begins to fade from the mind the conception of a special personality to whose variable will they were before ascribed.
Comb. 1618. Bolton, Florus, IV. iii. (1636), 293. While Antonius, variable-witted,… takes upon him to be a king.
c. In miscellaneous applications.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1874), I. 126. By hir iyen clowdy and varyable vysage.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 442. These beautifull shapes,… not varriable in time, not withering through the heate of the sunne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vi. 38. For formes are variable and decay, By course of kind, and by occasion.
1609. Wibarne, New Age Old Names, To Rdr. A 4 b. If I haue omitted something in a matter so variable.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 63. Our Course variable between East and South.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 98, ¶ 1. There is not so variable a thing in Nature as a Lady’s Head-dress.
1832. Lewis, Use & Ab. Pol. Terms, Introd. 7. The variable meaning of a word.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., II. i. (1874), 78. This production of change is not variable or capricious, but follows certain fixed laws.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Logic, 388. Events, which … depend at once on constant and on variable conditions.
absol. 1872. Bagehot, Physics & Pol. (1876), 32. We overlook and forget the constant while we watch the variable.
2. Of persons: Apt to change from one opinion or course of action to another; inconstant, fickle, unreliable.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 357. Þe men beeþ variable and vnstedefast, trecherous and gileful.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XIX. 69. Somme of ows [are] sothfast and some variable.
1402. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, 78. Al-be-hyt that man fynde o woman nyce, In-constant, recheles, or varriable.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, II. iii. (1883), 37. So that they be not founde … for enuye variable.
a. 1542. Wyatt, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 37. My word nor I shall not be variable, But alwaies … firme and stable.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 135. The popularie … ar so warieabill and faccell.
1643. Baker, Chron. (1653), 504. Lydington was … a man of the greatest understanding,… but very variable.
1708–9. Pennsylv. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 313. I am very sensible he is a variable man, and not … to be entirely depended on.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 162, ¶ 5. One of the most variable Beings of the most variable Kind.
1808. Scott, Marm., VI. xxx. Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light quivering aspen made.
transf. 1484. Caxton, Curiall, ij b. Them whom fortune the variable hath most hyely lyfte up and enhaunsed.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 110 b. King Charles did politiquely consider, what a variable lady Fortune was.
b. Const. in (words, actions, etc.).
1429. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 145. In thy behestes be nat variable.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 544. See you not howe varyable the kynge is in his wordis?
1547. Boorde, Introd. Knowl., 214. In vsyng my rayment I am not varyable.
1562. Bullein, Bulwarke, Bk. Vse Sickmen, 55. Bee not variable in Religion.
1623. Jas. I., in Ellis, Lett., Ser. I. III. 139. He is in this busienesse … as variable and uncertaine as the Moone.
† c. Liable to alter or turn from (or of) a purpose, etc. Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 752. No mervell is, þouȝe Rome be som what variabill Fro honour & fro wele.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 5120. Þei wil holde stable, And finally nat be variable From þe ende, platly, þat þei make.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 216. If we fynde hym varyable Of his prechynge that he hath tawth.
1493. Petronylla, 21 (Pynson). From hir entent nat founde variable.
3. a. Of the weather, seasons, etc.: Liable to vary in temperature or character; changeable.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cres., 150. The seuin Planetis … hes power … To reull … Wedder and wind, and coursis variabill.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. § 15. 428. Peace is not like the immoveable mountaines, but rather like to the variable skie.
1722. De Foe, Plague (Rtldg.), 14. The Weather was temperate, variable and cool enough.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 493/2. The great sunshine heats of Florence, which are too variable and undetermined.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 569. The weather … was very variable, but upon the whole mild.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 288. Exposed entirely to the vicissitudes of our ever-variable climate.
b. Of wind or currents: Tending to change in direction; shifting.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. i. (1848), 146. As variable as the Wind.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiii. (1840), 229. We had the wind variable.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., I. 340. He who has been taught to consider that nothing in the world is so variable as the winds.
1832. De la Beche, Geol. Man., 95. There is a tendency of the surface waters to the S.E., being variable in winter.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxv. 84. The wind shifted and became variable.
1854. Tomlinson, Arago’s Astron., 185. Much less regular in the temperate regions, they are called variable winds.
c. Of a star: That varies periodically in respect of brightness or magnitude.
1788. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), II. 471/2, marg. Of the variable stars.
1854. Brewster, More Worlds, i. 7. It appears and disappears like a variable star, shewing in painful succession its spots of light and of shade.
1880. Agnes Giberne, Sun, Moon & Stars, 239. There are numbers of stars called Variable Stars, the light of which is constantly changing, now becoming more, now becoming less.
d. Biol. Liable to deviate from a type; admitting of such deviation. (Cf. VARIATION 10.)
1859. Darwin, Orig. Species, v. 149. Beings low in the scale of nature are more variable than those which are higher.
1877. Conder, Basis of Faith, v. 231. Species, it has been well said, are ‘variable, but not mutable.’
1880. A. R. Wallace, Island Life, 59. It is now very easy to understand how, from such a variable species, one or more new species may arise.
† 4. Characterized by variation or diversity; differing, diverse, various. Obs.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 239. The peple wente furthe to mete the victor with variable [L. varia] gladdenesse.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. (Percy Soc.), 61. For musike doth sette in all unyte The discorde thynges whiche are variable.
1539. Act 31 Hen. VIII., c. 14. By occasion of variable and sundrie opinions … great discorde … hathe arrisen.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., p. iii. Flowers … delightsome to the eye, in consideration of their variable colours.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 372. The variable transformations of Proteus.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 167. It were a worke … tedious to the Reader, to recite the variable opinions of Chronologers … about these points.
† b. Different from something. Obs.–1
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 167. Thy visage chaunging by lookes manifolde:… Sometime as lead, from death scant variable.
† c. Variegated. Obs.–1
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 16. Of the coloure of boxe, somwhat variable and as it wer chekered.
† 5. Of varying ownership. Obs.
1549. in Leges Marchiarum (1705), 80. The Land variable, common of both the People, called the Debateable Ground, which lieth between the West Marches of England and Scotland. Ibid., 81. The said Variable Ground.
6. Susceptible or admitting of increase or diminution, not remaining the same or uniform, in respect of size, number, amount or degree.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 94. His belly is variable, now great, now small like an Oxes.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 496. They are sold at a more reduced price, about 9s. per dozen; this, however variable,… leaves the money saved proportionably the same.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 114. The pressure of the atmosphere is variable.
1858. Lardner, Handbk. Nat. Phil., 281. When the quantity of heat necessary to raise a body one degree is different in different parts of the scale, the specific heat is said to be variable.
1882. Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 27. If a point, P, moves round a circle with a velocity either constant or variable.
b. Of quantity, number, etc.: Liable to vary.
1710. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., II. Variable Quantities, in Fluxions, are such as are supposed to be continually increasing or decreasing; and so do by the motion of their said Increase or Decrease Generate Lines, Areas or Solidities.
1743. Emerson, Fluxions, 223. If any one of the variable Distances … be called x. Ibid. (1763), Meth. Increments, 41. Multiply the given increment by the next preceeding value of the variable quantity.
1801. Encycl. Brit., Suppl. II. 740/1. The abscisses and ordinates of an ellipsis, or other curve line, are variable quantities.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., II. 374. A sucker composed of a variable number of scaly pieces.
1884. Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner., 254. Small bundles, the number of which is variable.
c. spec. (See quot.)
1829. Hand-bk. Nat. Philos., Hydrost., viii. 21 (L.U.K.). Some springs, called variable or reciprocating,… discharge a much smaller quantity of water for a certain time, and then give out a greater quantity.
7. That may be varied, changed, or modified; alterable.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 14. What if the minister’s vocation be … not a ceremony variable as times and occasions require?
1611. Bible, Hab. iii. 1, marg. According to variable songs or tunes.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2690. Variable Cut-off, one actuated from the governor, so as to be brought into action according to the load on the engine.
1887. Pall Mall G., 5 Nov., 7/1. The permanent taxes … will be variable only by regular Act.
Comb. 1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2691. Olmsted’s Variable-Speed Pulley. Ibid., Variable-speed Wheel, a contrivance for obtaining alternately accelerated and retarded circular motion.
b. Gram. Capable of inflexion.
1891. in Cent. Dict.
8. Nat. Hist. In specific names, as variable cod, hare, ixalus, jacana, lemur, maple, mole, rail, tanager, toad.
1862. Chambers’s Encycl., III. 642/2. [The] Dorse … of the same genus with the cod…; its colour is more variable, from which it has received the name of *Variable Cod.
1896. trans. Boas’ Text Bk. Zool., 529. The Polar or *Variable Hare (Lepus timidus or variabilis) … is white during winter in the colder regions.
c. 1880. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., IV. 366. The *Variable Ixalus of Ceylon is … very variable in its coloration.
1785. Latham, Gen. Syn. Birds, III. I. 244. *Variable Jacana (Parra variabilis).
1896. H. O. Forbes, Handbk. Primates, I. 68. The Ruffed or *Variable Lemur derives its name from the remarkable variability of its external markings.
1833. Penny Cycl., I. 78/1. Acer heterophyllum, the *variable maple…. This is the plant sold in the English nurseries under the name of A. creticum.
1776. P. Brown, Illustr. Zool., 110. *Variable Mole.
1781. Pennant, Hist. Quad., II. 485. Variable Mole;… color of the hair on the upper part of the body varied with glossy green and copper color.
1824. Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., XII. I. 198. *Variable Rail (Rallus varians). Brown Rail spotted and striated with black and white, with the body beneath and eyebrows cinereous or griseous.
1783. Latham, Gen. Syn. Birds, II. I. 234. *Variable Tanager…: general colour of the plumage green, very glossy and variable.
c. 1880. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., IV. 360. The *Variable, or Green Toad, found in France, has hind limbs and feet nearly as large as those of the Frog.
B. sb. 1. Math. and Phys. A quantity or force that, throughout a mathematical calculation or investigation, is assumed to vary or be capable of varying in value. Cf. prec. 6 b and CONSTANT sb.
1816. trans. Lacroix’s Diff. & Int. Calculus, 4. The limit of the ratio … will be obtained by dividing the differential of the function by that of the variable.
1862. Draper, Intell. Devel. Eur. (1868), 173. In some mathematical expression containing constants and variables.
1883. Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 238. In this case φ will also be a potential (or flow) function of the new variables (ξ, η).
2. a. A variable or shifting wind; spec. in pl. (see quots. 1857, 1867).
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 349. The meeting of the two opposite currents [of wind] here produces the intermediate space called the calms or variables.
1857. Tomes, Americ. in Japan, i. 31. The Variables, which are found South of the border of the South-east Trades.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 710. Variables, those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected.
b. A variable star. (See A. 3 c.)
1868. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., 21. Among the acknowledged variables β Persei is perhaps the most interesting.
1880. Athenæum, 11 Sept., 341/1. The period of this interesting variable is a little less than five days.
3. Something that is liable to vary or change; a changeable factor, feature or element.
1846. Grote, Greece, II. xxi. (1862), II. 229. The beginning and the end are here [in the Odyssey] the date in respect to epical genesis, though the intermediate events admit of being conceived as variables.
1865. Martineau, in Theol. Rev., 670. A changing scene with the variables of which he is in immediate contact.
1881. H. H. Gibbs, Double Standard, 13. Uniformity, and therefore the removal of those variables which must be an encumbrance to commerce.
