multivariantadj.

1902 J. E. Trevor in Jrnl. Physical Chem. 6 136 I would..suggest..that when the variance is successively zero, one, two, three, and more than two, the system be said to be in an Invariant, Univariant, Bivariant, Trivariant, Multivariant, state.

1904 Jrnl. Physical Chem. 8 491 The indifferent points of a bivariant or multivariant system form a series analogous to the series of states of equilibrium of a univariant system.

1953 A. K. C. Ottaway Educ. & Society iii. 47 Enough should have been said to indicate the multiplicity of factors which must be considered in any analysis of social change. That is why the concept of causation is so dangerous in social science; because we are dealing with multi-variant phenomena.

1959 Biol. Abstr. 34 561/2 (heading) The application of multivariant analysis to the physical characteristics of Guarao and Caribe Indians.

1991 C. Mansall Discover Astrol. i. 15/1 With growing sophistication in the use of computers, it may be possible to devise a multi-variant analysis in which several features are examined simultaneously.

1997 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94 9534/2 (caption) Light lines provide equilibrium curves for several univariant reactions, mid-weight lines indicate metamorphic-facies boundaries (actually multivariant zones of appreciable P–T width).