VARGUENO, var-g[=a]'n[=o], _n._ a form of cabinet made at _Vargas_ in
Spain, having a box-shaped body with lid, resting on columns, and opening
at the bottom so as to serve as a writing-desk.
VARIABLE, v[=a]'ri-a-bl, _adj._ that may be varied: changeable: liable to
change: unsteady: (_bot._, _zool._) of a species embracing many individuals
and groups departing more or less from the strict type: (_math._)
quantitatively indeterminate: (_astron._) changing in brightness.--_n._
(_math._) a quantity subject to continual increase or decrease: a quantity
which may have an infinite number of values in the same expression: a
shifting wind.--_ns._ VARIABIL'ITY (_biol._), tendency to depart in any
direction from the mean character of the species; V[=A]'RIABLENESS.--_adv._
V[=A]'RIABLY.--_v.t._ V[=A]'RIATE, to vary.--_v.i._ to change.--_adj._
V[=A]'RIATED, varied, diversified: varriated.--_n._ VARI[=A]'TION, a
varying: a change: change from one to another: successive change: the
extent to which a thing varies: (_gram._) change of termination: (_mus._) a
manner of singing or playing the same air with various changes in time,
rhythm, or key: (_astron._) deviation from the mean orbit of a heavenly
body: (_biol._) departure from the mean character of a species.--_adjs._
VARI[=A]'TIONAL, pertaining to variation; V[=A]'RIATIVE, tending to
variation.--VARIABLE SPECIES, any species with marked rate of variability.
[Fr.,--L. _variabilis_.]
VARIANCE, v[=a]'ri-ans, _n._ state of being varied: an alteration: a change
of condition: (_law_) a discrepancy: difference that arises from, or
produces, dispute.--_n._ V[=A]'RIANT, a different form of the same original
word: a different reading, e.g. in a manuscript.--_adj._ diverse, variable,
inconstant.--AT VARIANCE, in disagreement.
VARICELLA, var-i-sel'a, _n._ chicken-pox--applied also loosely to various
eruptive diseases, as swine-pox, hives, or varioloid.--_adjs._ VARICELL'AR,
pertaining to varicella; VARICELL'OID, resembling varicella.
VARICOCELE, var'i-k[=o]-s[=e]l, _n._ an enlargement of the veins of the
spermatic cord, or sometimes of the veins of the scrotum. [L. _varix_, a
dilated vein, Gr. _k[=e]l[=e]_, a tumour.]
VARICOLOURED, v[=a]'ri-kul-urd, _adj._ diversified in colour.--Also
VARICOL'OROUS. [L. _varius_, various, _color_, colour.]
VARICORN, v[=a]'ri-korn, _adj._ having diversiform antennæ.--_n._ a
varicorn beetle. [L. _varius_, various, _cornu_, a horn.]
VARICOSE, var'i-k[=o]s, _adj._ permanently dilated or enlarged, as a vein,
the actual dilatation being called a varix--most often in the sub-mucous
veins of the rectum (constituting _hæmorrhoids_ or _piles_), in the
spermatic veins (giving rise to _varicocele_), and in the veins of the
lower extremities--also VAR'ICOUS.--_adjs._ VAR'IC[=A]TED, marked by
varicose formations (said of shells); VAR'ICOSED.--_n._ VARICOS'ITY, state
of being varicose.--VARICOSE VEINS, a condition in which the superficial
veins, usually of the leg, are swollen for no apparent physiological
reason. [L. _varicosus_, full of dilated veins--_varix_, a dilated
vein--_varus_, bent, crooked.]
VARIEGATE, v[=a]'ri-e-g[=a]t, _v.t._ to mark with different colours.--_ns._
VARIEG[=A]'TION, in plants, a condition in which other colours are
exhibited in parts where green is the normal colour; V[=A]'RIEG[=A]TOR. [L.
_variegatus_--_varius_, various, _ag[)e]re_, to make.]
VARIETY, va-r[=i]'e-ti, _n._ the quality of bring various: difference:
many-sidedness, versatility: a collection of different things: one of a
number of things nearly allied to each other: one or more individuals of a
species, which, owing to accidental causes, differ from the normal form in
minor points:--_pl._ VAR[=I]'ETIES.--_adj._ V[=A]R[=I]'ETAL (_biol._),
having the character of a zoological or botanical variety.--_adv._
VAR[=I]'ETALLY.--_ns._ VAR[=I]'ETY-SHOW, a mixed entertainment comprising
dances, songs, negro-minstrelsy, farces, short sketches, &c.;
VAR[=I]'ETY-TH[=E]'ATRE, a theatre devoted to variety-shows.--_adj._
V[=A]'RIFORM, varied in form.--_v.t._ V[=A]'RIFY, to variegate. [L.
_varietas_--_varius_, various.]
VARIOLA, v[=a]-r[=i]'[=o]-la, _n._ smallpox.--_adjs._ VAR[=I]'OLAR,
VARIOL'IC, VAR[=I]'OLOUS.--_ns._ VARIOL[=A]'TION, inoculation with the
virus of smallpox; V[=A]'RIOLE, a shallow pit or pitted marking, a foveole;
VAR[=I]'OLITE, a rock covered with pea-like pustular forms, held in India
as a preventive of smallpox and worn sometimes as an amulet round the
neck.--_adjs._ VARIOLIT'IC, pertaining to variolite; V[=A]'RIOLOID,
resembling smallpox: resembling measles.--_n._ modified smallpox. [Low
L.,--L. _varius_, various, spotted.]
VARIOMETER, v[=a]-ri-om'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument used in measuring
magnetic intensity. [L. _varius_, various, Gr. _metron_, measure.]
VARIORUM, v[=a]-r[=i]-[=o]'rum, _adj._ a term applied to an edition of some
work in which the notes of various commentators are inserted. [From the
full Latin 'editio cum notis _variorum_.']
VARIOUS, v[=a]'ri-us, _adj._ varied, different: several: unlike each other:
changeable: uncertain: variegated.--_adv._ V[=A]'RIOUSLY.--_n._
V[=A]'RIOUSNESS. [L. _varius_.]
VARISCITE, var'i-s[=i]t, _n._ a mineral very like a greenish turquoise
found in Brittany. [From L. _Variscia_, Voigtland, part of Saxony.]
VARIX, v[=a]'riks, _n._ abnormal dilatation or tortuosity of a vein:--_pl._
VAR'IC[=E]S. [L.,--_varus_, bent.]
VARLET, vär'let, _n._ a footman: a low fellow: a scoundrel.--_n._ VAR'LETRY
(_Shak._), the rabble, the crowd. [O. Fr. _varlet_, formerly _vaslet_, from
a dim. of Low L. _vassalis_.]
VARMIN, VARMINT, var'min, var'mint, dialectal variants for _vermin_.
VARNISH, vär'nish, _v.t._ to cover with a liquid so as to give a glossy
surface to: to give a fair appearance to.--_n._ a sticky liquid which dries
and forms a hard, lustrous coating: a glossy, lustrous appearance: any
gloss or palliation.--_ns._ VAR'NISHER; VAR'NISHING; VAR'NISHING-DAY, a day
before the opening of a picture exhibition when exhibitors may varnish or
retouch their pictures after they have been hung; VAR'NISH-TREE, a name
given to trees of several distinct natural orders, the resinous juice of
which is used for varnishing or for lacquering. [Fr. _vernis_--Low L.
_vitrinus_, glassy--L. _vitrum_, glass.]
VARRIATED, var'i-[=a]-ted, _adj._ (_her._) battlemented with solid
projections and crenelles, both pointed bluntly, but in the latter case
reversed. [So named from the resemblance to _vair_.]
VARSAL, var'sal, _adj._ (_coll._) universal.
VARSITY, var'si-ti, _n._ (_coll._) university.
VARSOVIENNE, var-s[=o]-vi-en', _n._ a dance imitated from the Polish
mazurka, the music for such. [Fr., fem. of _Varsovien_--_Varsovie_,
Warsaw.]
VARTABED, vär'ta-bed, _n._ one of an order of Armenian clergy devoted to
teaching.--Also VAR'TABET.
VARUNA, var'[=oo]-na, _n._ an ancient Indian Vedic god of heaven and
day--latterly, rather the deity that rules over the waters.
VARUS, v[=a]'rus, _n._ the same as _talipes varus_: a knock-kneed person.
[L.]