| 释义 |
variety|vəˈraɪɪtɪ|
Forms: 6 varyete, varietee, -tye, 6–7 -tie, 7– variety.
[a. F. variété (= It. varietà, Sp. variedad, Pg. variedade), or ad. L. varietāt-, varietās difference, diversity, etc., f. vari-us various a.: see -ty.]
†1.
a. Variation or change of fortune. Obs.
a1533Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) G viij, The players and gesters suffered great varietee in the empyre, according to the diuersitee of emperours. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 114 Our loose wings sometimes beating the rebels..and sometimes being driven by them back to our Colours..and this skirmish continuing with like varietie some three howers.
†b. Tendency to change; fickleness; change of purpose or plans. Obs.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 11 Thinkyng surely that they..would neuer consent & longe agree with the English⁓men, accordyng to their olde vaffrous varietie. 1579Fenton Guicciard. (1618) 312 This varietie (if it be possible to find out the truth in so great inconstancie) many attributed to his credulitie and lightnesse of beliefe.
†c. Dissension, division. Obs.—1
1546Bale Eng. Votaries i. 68 After the decease of King Edgare,..was a wonderfull varyete and scisme through out the whole realme.
2. Difference or discrepancy between things or in the same thing at different times.
1552Huloet, Varietie in fourme, dissimilitudo. 1580Fulke Martiall Confut. viii. Wks. (Parker Soc.) II. 193 The variety in time that is in the witness of the invention of the Cross. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xix. 180 Many, according to the varietie of their opinions, attribute this to diverse causes. 1629H. Burton Truth's Tri. 245 The vulgar Latine..hath noted in the margin..in the variety of reading. 1654tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 165 You cannot..but conclude..that my reasons are valid and strong for the variety of my different Conduct in such great Affairs. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. x. 246 This..occasions a very remarkable variety in the manner of equipping the ship for these two different voyages. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VI. 381 Upon examination, there will be less variety found between them than between birds that live upon land, and those that swim upon the water. 1861Paley æschylus (ed. 2) Prometh. 591 note, There is the same variety in 601, and the latter reading necessitates the questionable lengthening of α before πρ in 612.
3. a. The fact, quality, or condition of being varied; diversity of nature or character; absence of monotony, sameness, or uniformity.
1548Udall Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. xii. 34 The diuers placying and vse is not to the member reprochful, but this varietie rather apertayneth to the welth of the whole body. 1561tr. Calvin's Four Godly Serm. iii. G j, Although amonges men, there be soche a varietie & defference of myndes and desyres. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 241 Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale Her infinite variety. 1675R. Burthogge Causa Dei 63 By Representing the Variety of Opinions about the thing whereon I now discourse. 1704F. Fuller Med. Gymn. (1711) 3 They do not Consider the wonderful Variety of the Disorders of Nature. 1843Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl. VI. 108/1 The powerfulness, and variety of this splendid instrument. 1856Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 497 The perpetual variety of work which I have been in. 1860Mozley Univ. Serm. vii. 156 We find ourselves surrounded by the greatest variety of character in the world.
b. Without article.
1567J. Maplet Gr. Forest 27 b, It is to be maruelled how Dame Nature hath..for varietie sake so manifoldly varied and multiplied y⊇ kindes of colours either simply died, and stained, or [etc.]. a1633J. Austin Medit. (1635) 270 Therefore in Pleasures both Body and Soule desire with fulnesse of Pleasure to have fulnesse of variety. a1680Butler Rem. (1759) I. 15 And she [Nature] affects so much to use Variety, in all she does. a1721Prior Ess. & Dial. Dead, Opinion Wks. 1907 II. 196 We judge of things according to the humour we are in and that very Humour is subject to infinite Variety. 1784Cowper Task ii. 606 Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. iv, Variety is the mother of enjoyment. 1859Habits of Gd. Society xi. 312 A sensible man avoids variety in drinking. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 14 There is a want of variety in the answers.
c. As a literary, musical, or artistic quality.
1597Morley Introd. Mus. iii. 180 So that you must in your musicke be wauering like the wind, sometime wanton, sometime drooping,..and shew the verie vttermost of your varietie, and the more varietie you shew the better shal you please. 1601R. Chester Love's Martyr Title-p., A Poeme enterlaced with much varietie and raritie. 1622Peacham Compl. Gent. x. (1906) 86 Varietie is various, and the rules of it so difficult [etc.]. Ibid., To proceed further, were to translate Virgil himselfe; therefore hitherto of varietie. 1753Hogarth Anal. Beauty ii. 16 How great a share variety has in producing beauty. 1846Ruskin Mod. Paint. I. ii. ii. §8 Variety is never so conspicuous, as when it is united with symmetry. 1870Swinburne Ess. & Stud. (1875) 61 Variety is a rare and high quality, but poets of the first order have had little or none of it.
d. pl. A series or succession of different forms, conditions, etc.; variations.
1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies ii. viii. 100 We see great varieties in the yeere, which proceeds from the divers motions and aspects of Planets. 1668Cowley Ess., Agric., Virg. Georg. 40 What makes the Sea retreat, and what advance: Varieties too regular for chance. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. v. 180, I must..make a short digression on the heat and cold of different climates, and on the varieties which occur in the same place in different parts of the year. 1794G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Philos. IV. xliv. 406 The great distance of..Saturn..[does] not permit us to distinguish the varieties of its surface. 1805Foster Ess. i. i. 5 The varieties through which life has passed. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. ii. I. 167 He had passed through all varieties of fortune, and had seen both sides of human nature.
†4. The fact or quality of being varied in colour; variegation. Obs. rare.
1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 67 Hauyng theyr fethers enter⁓mengled with greene, yelowe, and purple, whiche varietie deliteth the sense not a litle. 1609Bible (Douay) Exod. xxvi. 31 Twisted silke, wrought with imbrodered worke and goodlie varietie. ― Ezek. xvii. 3 A great eagle with great winges..ful of feathers, and of varietie, came to Libanus.
5. Used as a collective to denote a number of things, qualities, etc., different or distinct in character; a varied assemblage, number, or quantity of something.
In some instances hardly distinguishable from sense 3.
a. With the.
1553T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 30, I might heape together the varietie of pleasures, which come by travaile. 1623Heminge & Condell in 1st Folio Shaks. A 3 heading, To the great Variety of Readers. 1634Sir T. Herbert Trav. 186 Behold the varietie of temporary blessings. 1798S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 164 The variety of simple scenes..made him delight to linger in Switzerland. 1851Carpenter Man. Phys. (ed. 2) 579 The variety of movements of which the hand of Man is capable.
b. Without article. ? Obs.
1575Fenton (title), Golden Epistles, contayning varietie of discourse, both morall, philosophicall, and divine, gathered as well out of the remainder of Guevaraes workes, and other authors. 1602Warner Alb. Eng. xi. lxv. 278 Varietie of Men to court a Woman is her pride. 1680Morden Geog. Rect., England (1685) 21 Bravely furnished with Variety of pleasant Orchards and Gardens. c1791Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 541/1 Hindostan affords variety of beasts for carriage, as camels, dromedaries [etc.].
c. With a, that, etc.
1708Sewel ii. s.v. Verschiet, There is no variety of goods; There's no choice to be had. 1728Chambers Cycl. s.v. Vein, In digging.., they meet with a Variety of Veins. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VIII. 197 He thus perceived a variety of kinds, almost equal to that variety of productions, which these little animals are seen to form. 1780Mirror No. 77, From this circumstance..a variety of remarks might be made. 1863P. Barry Dockyard Econ. 262 In consequence of the quality of the work executed, Messrs. Maudslay..have performed a great variety of smaller operations. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 240 Like Proteus, he transforms himself into a variety of shapes. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xv, To Nero..every man was sluggish and plebeian who did not care to season his recreation with a variety of vices.
d. With a plural verb.
1718Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Bristol 10 April, For twenty miles together..the most beautiful variety of prospects present themselves. 1780Bentham Princ. Legisl. xix. §24 Now of the infinite variety of nations there are upon earth, there are no two which agree exactly in their laws. 1849–50Alison Hist. Europe X. lxv. §74. 69 A variety of false attacks were immediately directed..against the ramparts. 1887Science X. 115 A variety of hooks were used for different kinds of fish and according to the time of day.
6. a. A different form of some thing, quality, or condition; something which differs or varies from others of the same class or kind; a kind or sort.
Also without of: see (b).
(a)1617J. Taylor (Water P.) Observ. & Trav. Lond. to Hamburgh Wks. (1630) 81/2 They haue strange torments and varieties of deaths, according to the various nature of the offences that are committed. 1639S. Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events To Rdr. a vij, Some good soules..will be glad to finde profitable admonitions..with varieties of pleasures fitting their humour. 1784Cowper Tiroc. 475 The spirit of that competition burns With all varieties of ill by turns. 1852H. Rogers Ecl. Faith (1853) 118 The distinction between the certain and the probable is felt to be too important not to be marked by corresponding varieties of speech. 1860Mozley Univ. Serm. vii. (1877) 156 Even the varieties of good character are almost infinite. 1873Hamerton Intell. Life i. iv. 22 The two lads represent two distinct varieties of human life.
(b)1643Denham Cooper's H. 198 Nature, whether more intent to please Us or her self, with strange varieties,..Wisely she knew the harmony of things. 1671Grew Anat. Pl. Introd. 3 For beholding the Many and Elegant Varieties, wherewith a Field or Garden is adorned. 1779Mirror No. 8, A good plain Mirror, intended to represent things just as they are, but with properties and varieties not to be met with in common glass. 1825Carlyle Schiller ii. 77 The task of composing dramatic varieties, of training players,..could not wholly occupy such a mind as his.
b. Bot. and Biol. A plant or animal differing from those of the species to which it belongs in some minor but permanent or transmissible particular; a group of such individuals constituting a sub-species or other subdivision of a species; also, a plant or animal which varies in some trivial respect from its immediate parent or type.
1629Parkinson Parad. xxvi. 215 Many more sorts of varieties of these kindes there are, but these onely..are noursed vp in Florists Gardens for pleasure. 1721Mortimer Husb. (ed. 2) II. 217 To make Varieties of them, the Seeds of the best single ones..are to be sown in September. 1721Bradley Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat. 145 The Lady Cow, which has likewise its Varieties beautifully spotted with the gayest Colours. 1780Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2) VI. 4651/2 Tritæophya leipyria is only a variety of the tritæophya causus. 1832Lander Exp. Niger II. viii. 10 Another variety of corn grows here, which has eight ears on a single stem. 1845Florist's Jrnl. (1846) VI. 206 For 12 old varieties in the nurserymen's class. 1859Darwin Orig. Spec. i. 7 When we look to the individuals of the same variety or sub-variety of our older cultivated plants and animals. 1870Yeats Nat. Hist. Comm. 6 A worker in wood will tell, from the texture and grain, not merely the species but the variety of tree.
attrib.1890Science-Gossip XXVI. 42 And what shall we say to some of our Latinised variety-names?
c. So in the classification of inorganic substances or of diseases.
(a)1753Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v., The naturalists of former ages have run into great errors, in mistaking the accidental varieties of plants, animals, and minerals for distinct species. 1757Da Costa Fossils 134 The sand-stone,..exhibited by Woodward,..is only a variety of this kind. 1839Ure Dict. Arts 619 Verona green is merely a variety of the mineral called green earth. 1855J. Phillips Man. Geol. 204 The coal is partly ‘splint’,..partly of the ‘cannel’ or ‘parrot’ variety.
(b)1806Med. Jrnl. XV. 5 It is an inflammatory affection, but destitute of redness;..the name of phlegmasia alba, or white inflammation, will therefore sufficiently characterize this variety of it. 1876J. S. Bristowe Th. & Pract. Med. (1878) 414 The various forms of intercurrent or secondary pneumonia, and..the lobular variety of the disease.
†7. pl. Articles of various kinds; odds and ends.
1624in Foster Eng. Factories Ind. (1909) III. 28 What⁓soever goods or varietyes be brought in by the English.
8. ellipt. for variety performance (see 9 b). Also, this species of entertainment, including its presentation on radio and television.
1904[see , legit]. 1908Stage Year Bk. 26 Some provincial theatres have gone over entirely to variety. 1929Illustr. London News 13 Apr. 609/1 (caption) Broadcasting variety from 2LO. 1967Stage 2 Mar. 3/4 Variety makes a comeback to Edinburgh on Monday. 1977J. Fleming Every Inch iii. v. 134 He realized..that variety was not..on the way out. It was..very much alive.
9. attrib.
a. variety shop or variety store, one in which small goods of various kinds are sold; a general store. N. Amer. (orig. U.S.).
1768Boston Even.-Post 21 Nov. 3/3 Just imported in the Bristol Packet..and to be Sold by William Jackson At his Variety Store,..Nails, Brads, and Tacks of all sorts. 1790Columbian Sentinel (Boston) 15 Sept. 4/2 To be sold, at J. Brazer's Variety-store,..Holland Gin, of the best kind, in cases. 1824A. Singleton (H. C. Knight) Lett. fr. South & W. 84 One indication of a new country is that the shops are variety-shops; each one keeping piece-goods, groceries, cutlery, porcelain, and stationary [sic] in different corners. 1829in Thornton Amer. Gloss., [The collected trumpery] gives the Mayor's office the appearance of a ‘variety store’. 1842Mrs. Kirkland Forest Life I. 149 A ‘variety store’, offering for sale every possible article of merchandize, from lace gloves to goose-yokes [etc.]. 1884Harper's Mag. Nov. 888/1 One of them walked gauntly down to the post-office in the corner of the variety store. 1965H. Hood in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories (1968) 2nd Ser. 218 We proceeded to the general store, grocery store, variety store, butcher shop, what would you call it? 1975Weekend Mag. (Montreal) 1 Nov. 25/1 Variety store owners just grin and bear the hockey card mania.
b. Used to designate music-hall or theatrical entertainments of a mixed character (songs, dances, impersonations, etc.). Also applied to things or persons connected with such entertainments.
1868Oregon State Jrnl. 17 Oct. 3/1 Variety Troupe.—This troupe gave an entertainment in the Court House. 1878Appleton's Jrnl. XIX. 36/2 A ‘music-hall’, a place of entertainment like that which we call a ‘variety theatre’ in America. 1882[see advance agent s.v. advance n. V]. 1886Referee 25 March (Cassell's), The biggest variety company ever seen at the East-end of London. 1891Chambers's Jrnl. 14 March 165/1 Music halls, or, to give them the more recent and appropriate term, variety shows, are quite modern institutions. 1892Daily News 25 March 2/2 The high salaries paid to variety artists. 1894‘M. O'Rell’ J. Bull & Co. 200 A succession of songs and dances in costume, commonly called Variety Shows. 1895Stuart & Park (title) The variety stage. 1908Stage Year Bk. 26 They are now an integral part of variety performances. Ibid., Theatres need the latter [licence] for the variety weeks and even extended variety seasons. 1926G. B. Shaw Transl. & Tomfooleries 232 This is not a serious play: it is what is called a Variety Turn for two musicians. 1967Stage 2 Mar. 3/4 A new variety-revue opens at the Palladium Theatre. 1982C. Castle Folies Bergère ii. 60 Provincial English variety theatres before World War Two.
Add:[6.] d. Philately. A set or group of postage stamps which differs slightly from other stamps of the same issue in terms of colour, paper, etc., spec. as a result of deliberate action taken during production (cf. error n. 4 e); an individual stamp belonging to such a group.
1863Stamp Collector's Mag. 1 Dec. 178/2 The ½-baj. Roman is printed in three distinct colours, forming three marked varieties. 1870Ibid. 1 Mar. 45/1 The discussion as to the Bergedorf error has caused us to ask ourselves the question—are varieties of this kind worthy of a place in our albums? 1911F. J. Melville Chats on Postage Stamps 49 Se tenant.—A French expression signifying that the stamps referred to have not been separated: usually employed in reference to an error, or variety. 1971D. Potter Brit. Eliz. Stamps xiv. 159 Collectors tend to use the words variety and error indiscriminately.
▸ variety meat n. orig. U.S. = offal n. 2a; a piece or type of offal (usu. in pl.).
1942Los Angeles Times 27 Jan. ii. 6/6 *Variety meats will be glorified by Miss Manners. 1953Sci. News Let. 63 244/2 Use..liver and variety meat in two days. 2004Times Lit. Suppl. 8 Oct. 30/2 This book does..look squarely and unsentimentally at ‘variety meats’. |