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Where does the word "vary" come from? It comes from Latin variare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "vary" come from? It comes from Latin variare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Vary’s story begins in Latin: variare meant “to change.” From 'varius', diverse, spotted. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as varier. Latin 'varius' also meant spotted or speckled; its deeper origin is unknown. It reached English by 1300s as vary. 'various' shares the root. Today, vary means to differ in size or kind.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient variare "to change", from 'varius', diverse, spotted.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval varier "to vary", Latin 'varius' also meant spotted or speckled; its deeper origin is unknown.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s vary "to change", 'various' shares the root.