Forms: 4– variance (6 Sc. -ans, 6 vareance), 4–6 variaunce (5 -auns); 4–7 varyaunce (5 -awnce, -anse, 6 -ance); 5 wari-, warya(u)nce; 5 veryaunce (fery-), weryauns, -ouns; 6 vari-, Sc. warience. [a. OF. variance, -aunce, -ence (= It. varianza), ad. L. variantia, f. variāre to VARY.]
I. 1. The fact or state of undergoing change or alteration; tendency to vary or become different; variation.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1433. God ordayns here … Sere variaunce … Of þe tyms and wedirs and sesons, In taken of þe worldes condicions, Þat swa unstable er and variande.
1398. Chaucer, Fortune, 45. Thou born art in my regne of varyaunce. Abowte the wheel with oother most thow dryue.
c. 1400. Brut, xxxiv. [It] was callede þe citee of Ludstan; but now þat name is chaungede þrouȝ variance of lettres, and now is callede London.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VI. 100. Bot this fals warld, with mony doubill cast, In it is nocht bot werray wariance.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 2052. She [Fortune] dawnsyth varyaunce with mutabylyte; Nowe all in welth, forthwith in pouerte.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Duke of Glocester, v. Any man to assure, In state uncarefull of Fortunes varyaunce.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 305. It being reasonable for every man to vary his opinion according to the variance of his reason.
1762. Falconer, Shipwr., I. 752. By this magnetic variance is explored.
1840. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. III. 282. The variance in the produce of the wheats I attribute to the nature of the soil.
1859. Tennent, Ceylon, II. VII. vii. 260. The temperature … ranges from 36° to 81° with a mean daily variance of 11°.
1888. Harper’s Mag., April, 752. Even as the blood loses and replaces its corpuscles, without a variance in the volume and vigor of its current.
† b. Inconstancy in persons; variableness, changeableness. Obs.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 22. Ther is deceipte in his balance, And al is that the variance Of ous, that scholde ous betre avise.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1135. The most parte of Room held it for dotage, And had muche mervell of his variaunce.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. vii. 176. He spekith of a variaunce and of a chaunging … in mannis wil.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cres., 223. In hir face semit greit variance, Quhyles perfyte treuth, and quhyles Inconstance.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xlv. 6. Luve … Quhilk is begun with inconstance, And endis nocht but variance.
† c. In the phr. without (Sc. but) variance. Obs.
The phrase occurs also in sense 3 b.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 10. We say offte hert, withowte variaunce, Sovereigne lord, welcome, welcome ye be!
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 42. Wallace … spak to thaim with manly contenance. In fayr afforme, he said, but wariance [etc.].
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xxxi. 17. He that with gud lyfe and trewth, But varians or vder slewth,… Dois evir mair with ane maister dwell.
2. The fact or quality of varying or differing; difference, divergence, discrepancy.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 762. For that that som men blamen ever yit, Lo, other maner folk commenden it. And as for me, for alle swich variaunce, Felicitie clepe I my suffisaunce.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 28. For alle Cristene men shulden be of oo wille, and variaunce in siche sectis makiþ variaunce in wille.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiii. 60. In many poyntes þai vary fra vs and fra oure faith. All þaire variaunce ware to mykil to tell.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, 277. Ye haue not many chaunges [of service] after the varyaunce of feastes,… as the comon seruyce of the churche vseth.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 221. So is there variance between written storie, and common speech, touching the true place of that building.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1623), 36. Words, that in their originall are Latine, and yet (saue some small variance in their terminations) fall out all one with the French, Dutch, and English.
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. ii. § 12. It is evident that variance of opinion proves error somewhere.
1846. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. I. 243. The variance of knowledge and will, where no passion is the stimulant.
1892. Law Times, XCII. 156/1. Whether variance between the provisional and complete specification of a patent … is still a ground of invalidity.
† b. Variety. Obs.–1
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4632. Mekill variaunce of vertus enveronis oure saules.
3. a. Law. A difference or discrepancy between two statements or documents.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 346. For whiche diversite and variaunce of the seide name.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VIII. 1736. Thar may na band be maid so sufficians, Bot ay in it thai fynd a warians.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., V. iv. Lawyer, This matter craues a variance, not a speech.
1596. Bacon, Max. & Use Com. Law, xxv. (1636), 98. So if I graunt you … a way ouer my land according to a plot … whereof a table is annexed to these presents, and there be some speciall variance betweene the table and the originall plot [etc.].
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Variance, an alteration of something formerly laid in a Plea.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1107. Advantage cannot be taken of a variance between the plaint and the declaration in the superior court.
1827. Bentham’s Ration. Judic. Evid., V. 598. The designation … by the name of St. Ethelburgh, instead of Saint Ethelburgha, was held to be (as lawyers term it) a fatal variance.
1835. Tomlins’ Law Dict. (ed. 4), s.v., If there is a variance between the declaration and the writ, it is error; and the writ should formerly abate.
b. In general use: A difference or discrepancy; a discriminating or divergent feature.
1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 83. The particuler variances betwene the Indentures and book of shipping.
1511. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 325. There have bene greate variaunce now of late in taking of principales.
1534. More, Dial. agst. Trib., I. Wks. 1153/1. That is a ryght heauy thyng to see suche varyaunces in our belief ryse and grow among our self.
1825. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 656. Though in the preceding statements there is an apparent variance,… the variations may have arisen [etc.].
1860. Tennent, Ceylon, Introd. xxxix. I have to apologise for variances in the spelling of proper names.
1884. Law Times, LXXVII. 27/1. The variances … which have arisen between the real property law of the United States and England.
† c. Divergence from the truth. Obs.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 706. How scholde I ȝeven the ony penaunce whanne I knowe wel thou makest variawnce. Ibid., 748, 958.
4. The fact of changing, altering or varying from a state, opinion, etc.; an instance of this.
1415. Hoccleve, To Sir J. Oldcastle, 253. Holsum to thee now were a variaunce Fro the feend to our lord god.
c. 1430. Lydg., Min. Poems (Percy Soc.), 45. After variaunce Fro lif to dethe.
1529. More, Dyaloge, IV. Wks. 271/1. In this point I assure you faythfully, there is no maner change or varyaunce from his oppinion.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 460. The first and only instance of variance from the former port of my resolution, I was duped into.
II. 5. The state or fact of disagreeing or falling out; discord, dissension, contention, debate. (Cf. 7 and 8.)
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 409. In came Dyscord to haue made varyaunce.
1477. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 184/1. If variance falle betwixt any fynder, affermyng ayenst any other persone.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxiv. 89. [It] maketh theim to enterteyne well togider wythoute varyaunce.
1535. Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 1. Great discorde, variance, debate,… & sedicion hath growen betwene his said subiectes.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Hecyra, IV. iv. When you seeke forged matter to cause strife and varience.
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus., xxvii. 43. Murder attends the variance of the Proud.
1684. Bunyan, Pilg. Prog., II. 192. She makes Variance betwixt Rulers and Subjects, betwixt Parents and Children.
1711. Beveridge, Thes. Theol., III. 193. What is variance? A sin opposed to amity.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), IV. 65. If any attempted to … defraud me of my property, I yielded it without variance.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. 293. It would be necessary for a time to keep up a show of variance between them.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Lit., v. (1878), 159. The bloody variance of a feudal nobility.
1864. Miss Yonge, Trial, II. 152. I never saw a child with such an instinct for preventing variance, or so full of tact and pretty ways.
Comb. 1552. Huloet, Variaunce makers, litistonsores.
b. Opposition or antagonism to something. rare.
1842. Manning, Serm., i. (1848), I. 16. An energetic variance of will to the mind of God. Ibid. (1875), Mission H. Ghost, viii. 210. We have used our wills for all manner of conscious variance to His holy will.
6. A disagreement, quarrel, or falling out; a dispute.
c. 1425. Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 244. Wyll ye agre that Phebe your mastresse May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce?
1453. Rolls of Parlt., V. 265/1. To make variaunces and commotion betwene you … and youre true people.
1473. Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 6. As thei went togedere … there felle in a varyaunce for ther logynge.
1541. Barnes, Wks. (1573), 339/2. Certaine articles, for ye which there is a varience in the world at this day.
1560. in W. Cotton, Elizabethan Guild (1873), 21. Yf any variance or controversie shall at any tyme happen to ryse betwene any youre brethren.
1607. Merry Devil of Edmonton, Induct. 84. Then thus betwixt vs two this variance ends.
1673. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 92. It were too long a Story to tell … ye originalls and beginnings of their variances.
1782. J. Brown, View Nat. & Rev. Relig., IV. II. 318. No variance hath ever taken place between God and holy angels.
† b. spec. A difference or dispute leading to legal action between parties. Obs.
1476. Searchers Verdicts, in Surtees Misc. (1890), 21. Award & jugement … of a variaunce of a ground be twix John Gilyot Alderman … and Ambrose Preston of London.
1498. Cov. Leet Bk., III. 595. Where-as diuerse discordes and wariaunces were late moved & had bitwen the seid parties.
1529. Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.), 51. To here and iudge suche causes and varyaunces.
1562. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 203. In respect of the variance and debait standand betuix thame.
1732. Pope, Ep. Bathurst, 271. Is there a variance? enter but his door, Balk’d are the Courts, and contest is no more.
III. 7. In variance. † a. Forming a subject of debate, contention or legal action. Obs.
1461–2. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 4. He is agred … to put all thing that is in variance betwixt you & him in the said Sir John & me.
1468. Searchers Verdicts, in Surtees Misc. (1890), 18. A grounde þat stode in variaunce betwix thabbot & Convent.
1534. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 317. Suche matteres as then were in varyaunce bytwene the seid Mulsho and the seid Selby.
1559. Bp. Scot, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. x. 32. Consider, I beseche you, the matters here in Varyaunce.
1588. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. iv. 438. One that mooueth pleas or sutes … to the end to have part of the land, or other thing in variance.
1713. M. Henry, Conc. Meekness Spirit (1822), 118. If meekness rule, matters in variance may be fairly reasoned and adjusted.
† b. At variance; = 8 b. Obs.
c. 1465. Engl. Chron. (Camden), 64. It happid that with boistez langage … he fil in variaunce with thaym, and thay fil on him.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxix. 493. The realme of Englande was as then in great variaunce among themselfe.
8. At variance. a. Of persons: In a state of discord, dissension or enmity.
1513. More, in Grafton, Chron. (1568), II. 757. The Lordes whome he knew at varyaunce, himselfe in his deathbed appeased.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, III. ii. Simo and Davus are at variance about the birth of the child.
1650. T. Bayley, Worcester’s Apophth., 4. The Servants of his house … were never at variance, in point of Religion.
1683. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 363. Whielst the Emperor and Turke are at variance.
1710. Beveridge, Thes. Theol., II. 337. God and man naturally are at variance.
a. 1781. R. Watson, Philip III. (1793), I. I. 60. Neither of the courts at variance seemed … inclined to prolong the war.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 77. The rest of the Peloponnesian allies, seeing the two kings at variance, followed the example of the Corinthians.
1870. Bryant, Homer, I. II. 34. The powers who dwell in the celestial mansions are no more At variance.
transf. 1718. Free-thinker, No. 73. 126. I heard a violent Noise, as if the Elements were all at Variance.
b. Const. with, among(st or between, from.
(a) 1528. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 177. James hath brokyn with … his Neyburus … and is at gret waryance with them.
1593. Bacchus Bountie, C 4. Hee falls at variance with mistris Merigodowne.
1650. Nicholas P. (Camden), 204. And they do their best to set this good Princess at variance with her Mother in Law.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1585. What cause Brought him so soon at variance with himself Among his foes?
1736. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 454. One … with whom you were at Variance.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. ii. It is with myself only I am at variance.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, VI. 39. On all matters as to which he was at variance with the Athenians.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 5. 138. Every year found the Justiciary at greater variance with Rome.
(b) 1577. Holinshed, Chron., I. 78/1. The Britaynes … were at variance amongst themselues.
1656. Milton, Lett. of State, Wks. 1851, VIII. 373. We have beheld the Protestant Princes … more and more at weakning Variance among themselves.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1877), I. 214. The Breton princes were at variance between themselves.
(c) 1885. Times (weekly ed.), 6 March, 11/4. A Government from which … he is totally at variance on points even more important.
c. In the phrases to set (or † fall) at variance.
(a) 1526. Tindale, Matt. x. 35. For Y am come to sett a man att varyaunce ageynst hys father. [So in later versions.]
1535. Coverdale, Prov. xvii. 9. He yt discloseth the faute, setteth frendes at variaunce.
1643. R. Baker, Chron. (1653), 541. The Spaniards set York and Stanley at variance.
1655. in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 557. Pale-faced envye, mixt with hatred and mallice, hath done there best indeavour to sett us att variance.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. iv. To disguise our passions, To set our looks at variance with our thoughts.
1755. Young, Centaur, i. Wks. 1757, IV. 107. Prone to … set things at variance, which, by nature, are allies.
(b) 1522. More, De Quat. Noviss., Wks. 89/1. Now shal ye se men fall at varyance for kissyng of the pax.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 45. The earle of Lennox and the cardinall was fallin at warience.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 35. Mars and Mercury fell at variance whose servant he should be.
d. Of things: In a state of disagreement or difference; conflicting, differing. Usu. const. with.
(a) 1704. Pope, Spring, 60. She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; While a kind glance at her pursuer flies, How much at variance are her feet and eyes!
1797. S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T. (1799), I. 72. His tongue and his countenance were a little at variance.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 9. The opinions and practices of most brewers are completely at variance upon the subject of mashing.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. 505. Men’s opinions of the worth of what Ralegh actually did as an historian are much at variance.
1910. Edin. Rev., Jan., 39. The brow and the mouth are at variance.
(b) 1780. Mirror, No. 84. Nature and Fashion are two opposite powers, that have long been at variance with one another.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 621. Arms,… in whatever cause, Seem most at variance with all moral good.
1816. Singer, Hist. Playing Cards, I. 58. An exquisite Chinese painting is at variance with this assertion.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 246. His conduct was not a little at variance with his professions.
a. 1881. A. Barratt, Phys. Metempiric (1883), 240. With a doctrine, like Kant’s, that [etc.]…, my philosophy is wholly at variance.
