vary

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: var=y

CIDE DICTIONARY

vary, v. t. [OE. varien, F. varier, L. variare, fr. varius various. See Various, and cf. Variate.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Shall we vary our device at will,
  Even as new occasion appears?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Gods, that never change their state,
  Vary oft their love and hate."  [1913 Webster]

  "We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.  [1913 Webster]

  "God hath varied their inclinations."  [1913 Webster]

  "God hath here
  Varied his bounty so with new delights."  [1913 Webster]
•  To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See Variation, 4.  [1913 Webster]

vary, v. i. 

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "That each from other differs, first confess;
  Next, that he varies from himself no less."  [1913 Webster]
•  To differ, or be different; to be unlike or diverse; as, the laws of France vary from those of England.  [1913 Webster]
•  To alter or change in succession; to alternate; as, one mathematical quantity varies inversely as another.  [1913 Webster]

  "While fear and anger, with alternate grace,
  Pant in her breast, and vary in her face."  [1913 Webster]
•  To deviate; to depart; to swerve; -- followed by from; as, to vary from the law, or from reason.   Locke.  [1913 Webster]
•  To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension; as, men vary in opinion.  [1913 Webster]

  "The rich jewel which we vary for."  [1913 Webster]

vary, n. 

 Alteration; change.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

vary, v. (-ies, -ied)
1 tr. make different; modify, diversify (seldom varies the routine; the style is not sufficiently varied).
2 intr. a undergo change; become or be different (the temperature varies from 30° to 70°). b be of different kinds (his mood varies).
3 intr. (foll. by as) be in proportion to.

Derivative

varyingly adv.

Etymology

ME f. OF varier or L variare (as VARIOUS)

THESAURUS

vary

accommodate, adapt, adjust, agree to disagree, alter, alternate, ameliorate, analyze, anatomize, atomize, back and fill, be at cross-purposes, be changed, be converted into, be distinct, be distinguished, be renewed, bear off, bend, better, bottom out, branch off, break, break off, break up, camouflage, change, change the bearing, checker, chop, chop and change, chop logic, clash, clash with, collide, come about, come around, come round, conflict, conflict with, contradict, contrast with, convert, counter, curve, deform, degenerate, denature, depart, depart from, desynonymize, deteriorate, detour, deviate, deviate from, differ, difference, differentiate, digress, disaccord, disaccord with, disagree, disagree with, discord, discriminate, disequalize, disguise, disjoin, dissent, dissimilate, distinguish, disunify, dither, divagate, divaricate, divaricate from, diverge, diverge from, diversify, divide, ebb and flow, equivocate, extend, fit, flop, flounder, fluctuate, go, go through phases, haul around, heel, improve, individualize, individuate, intermit, jangle, jar, jar with, jibe, jostle, lack regularity, make a distinction, mark, mark off, mark out, meliorate, mismatch, mismate, mitigate, modify, modulate, mutate, negate, not accord with, not square with, object, oscillate, overthrow, part, particularize, pendulate, personalize, qualify, re-create, realign, rebuild, reconstruct, redesign, refashion, refine a distinction, refit, reform, relieve, remake, remodel, renew, reorganize, reshape, restructure, revamp, revive, ring changes, ring the changes, run, seesaw, segregate, separate, set apart, set off, sever, severalize, sheer, shift, shift the scene, shilly-shally, shuffle, shuffle the cards, specialize, split hairs, stagger, stand apart, stand over against, subvert, sway, swerve, swing, switch, tack, take a turn, teeter, teeter-totter, tergiversate, totter, transform, trend, turn, turn aside, turn into, turn the corner, turn the scale, turn the tables, turn the tide, turn upside down, undergo a change, vacillate, variate, variegate, veer, warp, waver, wax and wane, wobble, work a change, worsen

ROGET THESAURUS

vary

Difference

VB be different, differ, vary, ablude, mismatch, contrast, divaricate, differ toto coelo, differ longo intervallo, vary, modify, discriminate, be different, differ, vary, ablude, mismatch, contrast, divaricate, differ toto coelo, differ longo intervallo, vary, modify, discriminate.

Dissimilarity

VB be unlike, vary, bear no resemblance to, differ toto coelo, render unlike, vary, be unlike, vary, bear no resemblance to, differ toto coelo, render unlike, vary.

Variation

VB vary, deviate, diverge, alternate, swerve.

Change

VB change, alter, vary, wax and wane, modulate, diversify, qualify, tamper with, turn, shift, veer, tack, chop, shuffle, swerve, warp, deviate, turn aside, evert, intervert, pass to, take a turn, turn the corner, resume, work a change, modify, vamp, superinduce, transform, transfigure, transmute, transmogrify, transume, metamorphose, ring the changes, innovate, introduce new blood, shuffle the cards, give a turn to, give a color to, influence, turn the scale, shift the scene, turn over a new leaf, recast, reverse, disturb, convert into.

Changeableness

VB fluctuate, vary, waver, flounder, flicker, flitter, flit, flutter, shift, shuffle, shake, totter, tremble, vacillate, wamble, turn and turn about, ring the changes, sway to and fro, shift to and fro, change and change about, waffle, blow with the wind (irresolute), oscillate, vibrate between, two extremes, oscillate between, two extremes, alternate, have as man phases as the moon.