varius Latin · revision 4827

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈwa.ri.ʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvaː.ri.us]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''varius''' (feminine varia, neuter varium); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan mentions [[m|la|*wasio-]], if it is related to [[vafer]] “sly”, or [[m|la|*wa-ro-]], but finds neither convincing.^(de Vaan 2008) The Oxford Latin Dictionary suggests that it comes from [[vārus]] “bent outwards”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was first of colour, particoloured, variegated or spotted, as a tongue in Varro, grapes in Cato and Terence's ''variā veste'' “in a gaily coloured garment”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) From this it meant composed of different elements, varied, different in each case, and of many kinds.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein says it means varied in its own texture, while [[dīversus]] is different from something else.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was used of fur, vair, and of horses, dappled.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) It survives as [[it|vaio]] and [[fr|vair]], and English ''vair'' “squirrel fur” and ''various'' come from it.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of grapes.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''vair'' “fur” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – English ''various'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Particoloured, [[m|en|variegated]], spotted.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Varied, [[m|en|diverse]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Different in each case; of many kinds.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Of fur, [[m|en|vair]]; of a horse, dappled.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[variegō]]

+ * [[varietās]]

+ * [[variō]]

+ * [[variola]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vafer]]

+ * [[en|various]]

+ * [[en|variety]]

+ * [[en|vair]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Isidore says a horse is called ''varius'' because it has streaks of different colours.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}