Etymologically
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variatio

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Forms

variātiō f (genitive variātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from variō “to vary” with the suffix -tiō, from varius “various”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Livy, whom he dates 59 BC–17 AD, and Livy has sine ūllā variātiōne “with no difference”, that is, unanimously.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant divergence of behaviour between people, as in Livy, the action of making varied, diversification, as in Pliny, and in Ulpian a change of mind.[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for variation in colour and for variety.[7] Through Old French variacion it gave English variation about 1400, “discrepancy, lack of agreement”.[3]

Timeline

  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it.[4][5]
  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of a change of mind.[2][4]
  • c. 1400 – English variation is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Difference, divergence.[2]
  2. Diversification, variation.[2]
  3. A change of mind.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press