vary English · revision 6615

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1369|origins=la varius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈvɛəɹi/; /ˈvæɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English varien, [[bor|fro|varier|t=to change, go astray]] and directly [[bor|la|vario|alt=variāre|t=to change, make different]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|varius|t=varied, different, spotted]] (see [[various]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of things, to undergo change: about 1369 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1350 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline, transitive and intransitive.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To differ or deviate from something is from about 1400, as is to disagree.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In magnetism, to deviate from true north is from 1669.^(OED 1989) [[varied|alt=Varied]], of different kinds, is from 1588, in Shakespeare.^(Barnhart 1988) In music, to vary a theme is to repeat it with changes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) A noun vary, a variation, existed from 1600.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1369 – to change.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – to differ; to disagree.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1588 – varied.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1669 – of a compass, to deviate.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To differ in size, amount, degree or kind from others of the same class.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To change or alter, especially by stages.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To make changes in; to give [[variety]] to.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To depart from a usual course; to [[deviate]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[varyingly]]

+ * [[varier]]

+ * [[covary]]

+ * [[intervary]]

+ * [[varying hare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[variability]]

+ * [[variable]]

+ * [[variance]]

+ * [[variant]]

+ * [[variation]]

+ * [[varied]]

+ * [[variety]]

+ * [[various]]

+ * [[variegated]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}