Various

a. [f. L. vari-us changing, different, diverse, variegated. Cf. It., Sp., Pg. vario.]

  I.  † 1. Of things: Undergoing, exhibiting, subject to, variation or change; variable, changeful. Obs.

1552.  Huloet, Variouse, uacillans,… uarius.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 226. Variouse, varius, instabilis.

1622.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Sir G. Nonsence, Wks. (1630), 1/2. Most conscript Vmpire in this various Orbe.

1647.  Cotterell, trans. Davila’s Hist. Fr., I. 13. As the condition of the Court is ever various and unconstant.

a. 1676.  Hale, Prim. Orig. Man. (1677), 191. The Instances of latter Discoveries which make evident this various state of the Globe of Earth and Water.

1708.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4463/3. The Winds were so various that we could not make to the Bay of la Hogue ’till the 11th.

a. 1763.  Shenstone, Elegies, V. 11. Ill can I bear the various clime of Love!

1775.  Sheridan, Rivals, Epil. The servile suitors watch her various face, She smiles preferment, or she frowns disgrace.

  † b.  Of fortune, life, etc. Obs.

1623.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Discovery by Sea, Wks. (1630), 24/1. Whilst we like various Fortunes Tennis ball, At euery stroake, were in the Hazzard all.

1644.  Quarles, Judgment & Mercy, 12. Fear not the frowns of princes, or the imperious hand of various fortune.

1703.  N. Rowe, Ulysses, I. i. Ev’ry Change Of various Life.

1741–2.  Gray, Agrippina, 54. Through various life I have pursued your steps.

  † c.  Turning different ways; going in different directions. Obs.

1621.  Quarles, Argalus & P. (1678), 13. There walked she; and in her various minde, Projects and casts about which way to finde The progress of the young Partheniaes heart.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., VI. 134. Forth from her snowy hand Nausicaa threw The various ball.

  † d.  Of a war: Marked by varying success. Obs.

1754–8.  Bp. Newton, Obs. Proph. Daniel, xii. 179. Hence arose a various war between Antiochus and Epiphanes, each of them seizing Phœnicia and Cœle-Syria by turns.

  † 2.  Of persons: a. Changeable in character; inconstant, unstable; fickle. Obs.

1636.  E. Dacres, trans. Machiavel’s Disc. Livy, I. 231. A Prince loosen’d from the law, will bee unthankfull, various, and imprudent.

1670.  G. H., Hist. Cardinals, III. IV. 328. So Cardinal Alexandrino dealt with Cardinal di S. Sisto, a various and unconstant man.

1670.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 330. Truly he seems to me so various and fickle in handling this businesse all along.

1719.  Swift, Hist. Eng., Wks. 1841, I. 544/2. Robert, who was various in his nature, and always under the power of the present persuader.

1776.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., i. (1782), I. 9. The various character of that emperor, capable, by turns, of the meanest and the most generous sentiments.

1820.  E. Thompson, Cullen’s Nosologia (ed. 3), 227. The mind, involuntarily various and unsteady.

  † b.  Marked by change or vacillation in opinions or views. Obs.

1645.  Visct. Falkland, Infallibility, 13. Saint Austin, who is very various I confesse in it.

1653.  Gataker, Vind. Annot. Jer. i. 3. In this point he seems somewhat various.

1661.  J. Davies, Civil Warres, 373. The officers of the army themselves began to be various and uncertain what to do.

  † c.  poet. Appearing in or assuming a variety of forms. Obs.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., IV. 524. Watch with insidious care his known abode; There fast in chains constrain the various god [sc. Proteus].

  II.  3. Of persons: † a. Versatile in knowledge or acquirements; exhibiting variety in work or writings. Obs.

1621.  Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 1. His name was already up … for a great scholar: a various Linguist.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. viii. (1686), 24. A delectable Author, very various.

1657.  S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., I. i. What in this respect is wiser, or better instructed than the Bee? What Artificer is so various, what Painter … can imitate her works?

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., I. 545. A man so various, that he seem’d to be Not one, but all Mankind’s Epitome.

  b.  Giving attention to many different subjects.

1878.  R. Choate, Addresses, 235. It is a common belief that Mr. Webster was a various reader; and I think it is true.

  4.  a. Varied in color; vari-colored, variegated. Chiefly poet.

a. 1618.  [see VARNISH v. 1 b].

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, IX. 2. The various Iris Juno sends with haste, To find bold Turnus.

1718.  Prior, The Garland, ii. At Morn the Nymph vouchsaft to place Upon her Brow the various Wreath.

1735.  Somerville, Chase, II. 106. The rising Sun … As many Colours from their glossy Skins Beaming reflects, as paint the various Bow.

1757.  W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, III. 54. A polish’d casque her lovely temples bound, with flow’rs of gold and various plumage crown’d.

1855.  Longf., Hiawatha, xii. 186. He saw the nine fair sisters … Changed to birds of various plumage.

  b.  Exhibiting variety in appearance; presenting different aspects at different times or places.

1656.  Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 288. Use these till the pain, and various colour cease.

1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 89. I … underneath beheld The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide And various.

1694.  Congreve, Double-Dealer, V. xvii. Ten thousand meanings lurk in every corner of that various face.

1712.  Addison, Spectator, No. 417, ¶ 3. The various Scenary of a Country Life.

1725.  Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 98. If one gets safe to the top, he may enjoy … a very extensive and various prospect on both sides.

1796.  Charlotte Smith, Marchmont, I. 118. Her road lay … through a country various and rich.

1832.  Lander, Exped. Niger, I. i. 32. They were clad in all their finery, their apparel being as gaudy as it was various.

1863.  W. W. Story, Roba di Roma, xiii. Various as the Campagna is in outline, it is quite as various in colour, reflecting every aspect of the sky and answering every touch of the seasons.

1872.  Blackie, Lays of Highlands, Introd. 49. The various outline of the Orcadian coast … presents a fine background.

  5.  Characterized by variation or variety of attributes or properties; exhibiting or possessing (several) different characters or qualities; varied in nature or character.

  pred.  a. 1633.  J. Austin, Medit. (1635), 270. Let the Pleasure be full to give Content; Let it be Various to avoid Satietie.

1762.  Sir W. Jones, Arcadia, Poems (1777), 109. His tune so various and uncouth he made, That not a dancer could in cadence move.

1780.  New Newgate Cal., V. 100. After conviction their behaviour was very various. On some occasions they appeared hardened in a very high degree, and at others [etc.].

1853.  Felton, Fam. Lett., xliv. (1865), 324. Since our return from our journey, the weather has been very various.

1858.  Lardner, Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., 99. The velocity of rivers is very various, the slower class moving at less than 3 feet, and the more rapid at so much as 6 feet per second.

1876.  Parker, Paraclete, I. vii. 107. The ministration of the spirit is various: by it Moses was made wise, Bezaleel was made skilful, and Samson was made strong.

  attrib.  1662.  Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. i. § 14. The various motion and configuration of the particles of matter.

1670.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 354. We shall have much adoe to get businesse of so various nature into fashion.

1703.  Rowe, Fair Penitent, I. i. The various fury of the Seasons.

a. 1720.  Prior, Judgment of Venus, i. When Kneller’s Works of various Grace, Were to fair Venus shown.

1796.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 413. We have had various health, but never any that deserved to be called good.

1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., III. 412. To show the various worth of Catherine Lloyd.

1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, III. ii. Such a various prodigality of writing materials.

1868.  Heavysege, Jezebel, III. 115. Then followed many years of various fate.

  † b.  Calculated to cause difference or dissimilarity. Obs.^–1

1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 53. God … in derision sets Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit,… To sow a jangling noise of words unknown.

  6.  a. Marked by variety of incident or action.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 379. She … lets grow her wings That in the various bussle of resort Were all to ruffl’d. Ibid. (1667), P. L., VI. 212. For wide was spred That Warr and various.

1727.  Dyer, Grongar Hill, 97. Wave succeeding wave, they go A various journey to the deep.

1829.  I. Taylor, Enthusiasm (1867), 75. Pride … forbids [the heretic’s] return to the truth he has … denounced from all points of his various course.

  b.  poet. Acting in many different ways.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 668. God of our Fathers, what is man! That thou towards him with hand so various … Temperst thy providence.

  7.  a. Exhibiting variety of subject or topic; concerned or occupied with many different themes.

1677–8.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 583. The other things committed to them, being of various consideration, they will probably digest into severall Bills.

1703.  Pope, Thebais, 795. Relate your fortunes, while the friendly night And silent hours to various talk invite.

1794.  Godwin, Caleb Williams, 139. Yet under this rude exterior it was easy to distinguish various knowledge, nice discrimination, and a strong and active mind.

1818.  Tuckey’s Narr. Exped. R. Zaire, Introd. p. lvii. He had stored his mind with so much various knowledge … that he was considered the most eligible for the undertaking.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, III. v. One whose conversation was so various, easy, and delightful.

  b.  Exhibiting variety in the different persons or things forming a collective whole; displaying or including a variety of objects.

1769.  Sir W. Jones, Palace Fortune, Poems (1777), 15. Through the four portals rush’d a various throng.

1817.  Scott, Don Roderick, II. lvii. A various host they came, whose ranks display Each mode in which the warrior meets the fight.

1830.  Tennyson, Ode to Memory, v. Great artist Memory,… Needs must thou dearly love thy first essay, And foremost in thy various gallery Place it.

1872.  Blackie, Lays Highl., 163. One single law, as with a chain, Doth bind the various vast infinity.

  III.  8. With pl. sb. Different from one another; of different kinds or sorts: a. In attrib. use.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 22. All the Sea-girt Isles That like to rich and various gemms inlay The … boosom of the Deep.

1648.  Crashaw, Delights Muses, Music’s Duel, 128. The humourous strings expound his learned touch By various Glosses.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 375. Then were they known to men by various Names, And various Idols through the Heathen World.

1724.  Watts, Logic (1726), 116. As infinitely various as the Essences of Things are, their Definitions must needs have very various Forms.

1743.  Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, II. xviii. 39. For Earth impartial entertains Her various sons, and in her breast Princes and beggars equal rest.

1805.  Med. Jrnl., XIV. 564. Dr. Jackson … is very careful in marking all those various effects produced from similar causes.

1857.  1st Rep. Comm. Customs, 13. To discharge the various and onerous duties of ‘Shipping Masters.’

1884.  trans. Lotze’s Metaph., 196. There arises,… by help of abstraction from the content of the various impressions, the picture of empty extension.

  ellipt.  1855.  Poultry Chron., III. 415. The Various Class presented the usual number of curiosities.

1903.  Westm. Gaz., 30 Dec., 3/1. A couple of ’cock, ground game, and such ‘various’ as snipe, duck, a plover or so.

  b.  Predicative.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., III. xliii. 323. The causes why men beleeve any Christian Doctrine, are various.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 229. How various and innumerable Are those, who live upon the Rabble?

1721.  Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 147. The Beetle and Water-Scorpion are little various in the outward Structure of their Bodies.

1784.  Cowper, Task, I. 302. The woodland scene, Diversified with trees of ev’ry growth, Alike, yet various.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxiv. Its springs, various in character, yet alike efficacious in virtue, are to be found in abundance.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ii. I. 180. Talents great and various assisted to spread the contagion.

1851.  Helps, Comp. Solit., xi. 213. The advantages of travel are very various and very numerous.

  c.  With a singular sb., and freq. preceded by each or every.

a. 1721.  Prior, Colin’s Mistakes, xi. Ca’ndish-Holles-Harley stood confest, As various Hour advis’d, in various Habit drest.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., I. xvii. 32. Yet Aristippus every Dress became: In every various Change of Life the same.

1766.  [C. Anstey], New Bath Guide, ix. 42. I alone his Thoughts employ Through each various Scene of Joy.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxx. Sufficient care was taken that this report should find its way to Ravenswood Castle through every various channel.

1819.  Byron, Juan, I. xviii. Don Jóse, like a lineal son of Eve, Went plucking various fruit without her leave.

1863.  Longf., Wayside Inn, II. Prel. 63. The breakfast ended, each pursued The promptings of his various mood.

  d.  In the phrase various reading(s). (Cf. VARIANT sb. 2 and LECTION 1 c.)

1659.  Bp. Walton, Considerator Consid., 114. Various Readings are the difference of Copies collected and offered to the reader’s judgment.

1701.  Stanley’s Hist. Philos., Introd. d b. That he might omit nothing, he has annext the various Readings,… Conjectures and Observations.

1721.  Bp. Atterbury, Lett. to Pope, 27 Sept. Therefore in my Waller there is a various reading of the first of these couplets.

c. 1750.  Johnson, in Boswell (Oxf. ed.), II. 618, note. Chaucer, a new edition of him, from manuscripts and old editions, with various readings, conjectures [etc.].

1824.  J. Johnson, Typogr., II. 437. An exact list of all its various readings.

1855.  Paley, Æschylus, Pref. (1861), p. x. What really is a necessary and inevitable part of an editor’s duty, viz. the continual discussion of various readings.

1910.  Expositor, April, 352. It may rest upon a various reading in the Hebrew.

  9.  In weakened sense, as an enumerative term: Different, divers, several, many, more than one.

  It is not always possible to distinguish absolutely between this sense and 8, as the meaning freq. merges into ‘many different’: cf. DIVERS a. 3.

1696.  Prior, To the King at Arrival in Holland, 62. In various Tongues He hears the Captains dwell On their great Leader’s Praise.

1725.  N. Robinson, Th. Physick, 239. By this Means we shall be able to judge with the greater Exactness, of all the various Phænomena’s of Nature.

1762.  J. Reeve, in Foley, Rec. Eng. Prov. S. J., VII. Introd. p. xlii. From that period the College of St. Omer began to shine among the various Seminaries of piety and learning.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lxi. But he heard of the Major’s fame from various members of his society.

1879.  Harlan, Eyesight, ii. 30. The eyeball is moved in various directions by six muscles.

1897.  Ld. Roberts, 41 Yrs. India, vii. (1898), 41. Various acts of incendiarism took place.

  10.  Comb. With adjs. or pa. pples., as various-blossomed, -colo[u]red, -formed, -measured, etc.

1730–46.  Thomson, Autumn, 5. The *various-blossom’d Spring.

a. 1711.  Ken, Preparatives, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 35. Bright *various colour’d Rays his Wings adorn.

1752.  J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 231. The various-coloured Gadus,… The Cod fish.

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, xxxi. Such triple tiaras of various-coloured gauze on her head.

1831.  Phenix Gaz. (Alexandria, VA), 19 Feb. 2/4. The Turkish encampment with its various-colored tents had a most picturesque appearance.

1803.  J. Kenney, Society, 54–5.

1822.  Hortus Anglicus, II. 155. L[epidium] Perfoliatum. *Various-leaved Pepper Wort.

1671.  Milton, P. R., IV. 256. *Various-measur’d verse, Æolian charms and Dorian Lyric Odes.

1880.  Beaconsfield, Endymion, lxv. The intended introduction of grain at *various-priced duties per quarter.

1727–46.  Thomson, Summer, 1110. The fiery spume Of fat Bitumen, steaming on the day, With *various-tinctur’d trains of latent flame.

1788.  Coleridge, Sonnet to Autumnal Moon, 1. Mild Splendour of the *various-vested Night!