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Webster 1913 Edition

Vary

Va′ry

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Varied
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Varying
.]
[OE.
varien
, F.
varier
, L.
variare
, fr.
varius
various. See
Various
, and cf.
Variate
.]
1.
To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, position, or the like; to make different by a partial change; to modify;
as, to
vary
the properties, proportions, or nature of a thing; to
vary
a posture or an attitude; to
vary
one’s dress or opinions.
Shall we
vary
our device at will,
Even as new occasion appears?
Spenser.
2.
To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate.
Gods, that never change their state,
Vary
oft their love and hate.
Waller.
We are to
vary
the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.
Dryden.
3.
To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.
God hath
varied
their inclinations.
Sir T. Browne.
God hath here
Varied
his bounty so with new delights.
Milton.
4.
(Mus.)
To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See
Variation
, 4.

Va′ry

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To alter, or be altered, in any manner; to suffer a partial change; to become different; to be modified;
as, colors
vary
in different lights
.
That each from other differs, first confess;
Next, that he
varies
from himself no less.
Pope.
2.
To differ, or be different; to be unlike or diverse;
as, the laws of France
vary
from those of England
.
3.
To alter or change in succession; to alternate;
as, one mathematical quantity
varies
inversely as another
.
While fear and anger, with alternate grace,
Pant in her breast, and
vary
in her face.
Addison.
4.
To deviate; to depart; to swerve; – followed by
from
;
as, to
vary
from the law, or from reason
.
Locke.
5.
To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension;
as, men
vary
in opinion
.
The rich jewel which we
vary
for.
Webster (1623).

Va′ry

,
Noun.
Alteration; change.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Definition 2024

vary

vary

English

Verb

vary ‎(third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)

  1. (transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.
    He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.
  2. (transitive) To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
    You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.
    • Waller
      Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.
    • Dryden
      We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.
  3. (intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.
    His mood varies by the hour.
    The sine function varies between −1 and 1.
    • Addison
      While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.
  4. (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.
    The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.
  5. (intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.
    I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5.
  6. (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
    • Sir Thomas Browne
      God hath varied their inclinations.
    • Milton
      God hath here / Varied his bounty so with new delights.
  7. (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
  8. (obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
    • Webster (1623)
      the rich jewel which we vary for

Translations

Noun

vary ‎(uncountable)

  1. (obsolete) alteration; change.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Related terms

External links

  • vary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • vary in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Malagasy

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀas, from Proto-Austronesian *bəʀas.

Noun

vary

  1. rice ((raw) seeds used as food)

Etymology

From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō ‎(“to change, alter, make different”), from varius ‎(“different, various”); see various

Pronunciation

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