[f. VARIOUS a. + -NESS.]
† 1. Changeableness, inconstancy, variability. Obs.
1607. Daniel, Cleopatra, Wks. (Grosart), III. 9. A Roman hath but here a Roman quayld, And onely but by Fortune’s variousnes.
1647. Cotterell, trans. Davila’s Hist. Fr., I. 22. The Prince had in the war proved the variousnesse of fortune.
† 2. Difference, variance. Obs.
1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 68. This space is the varietie, or variousnes that is betweene seuerall, and distinct arguments.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. xiii. 9. Here the plural number is used, which implieth a variousness and disagreement in false Doctrines.
3. Variety of character or nature; varied condition or quality.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 98. The variousnesse … of … every single and particular form of the Individuall.
1653. Blithe, Engl. Improver Impr., 55. And a good experienced Millwright … is well able to regulate them … to the incomming of the Tide, or out-going of the Floods, as the variousness of opportunities will require.
1834. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXXVI. 543. His waking thoughts had all the vividness of visions, all the variousness of dreams.
1845. Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 39. Unimaginable space … Faileth to match His boundless variousness.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iv. (1875), 163. The religious life is at bottom everywhere alike; but it is curious to note the variousness of its setting.
