| 释义 |
ˈvariableness
[f. prec. + -ness.]
The quality of being variable or changeable; tendency or liability to vary: a. Of things.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 201 Therefore mony difference be in a man, swiftenesse of sawle, variablenesse of witte. 1569Golding Heminge's Postill. Ded. 2 Whose interpretation being alwayes one without variablenesse. 1595Drake's Voy. (Hakl. Soc.) 19 The variableness of the winde and weather. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 1 The variablenes of times, places, & dispositions of churches. 1712Steele Spectator No. 478 ⁋2 The Variableness of Fashion turns the Stream of Business. 1794Jones in G. Adams Nat. & Exper. Phil. II. xxii. 468 note, The variableness in refractive power of different sorts of glass. 1820W. Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. I. 403 This variableness being the effect of the unequal temperature of the ice and water. 1838Arnold in Life & Corr. (1844) II. viii. 126 With regard to the Examinations, I hear a general complaint of the variableness of the standard. 1885Manch. Exam. 14 Apr. 8/6 The proverbial variableness of the Irish climate.
b. Of persons, the mind, conduct, etc.
1491Caxton Vitas P. (W. de W. 1495) ii. 237 By a brother of his he hadde be Induced to soo grete varyablenesse and unstedfastnesse. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 271 b, The varyablenesse or vnstedfastnesse of man or woman. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 307 That the reading of many authors..drawe not after them the discommoditie of fickle headinesse and variablenesse. 1611Bible Jas. i. 17 The Father of lights, with whom is no variablenesse, neither shadow of turning. 1677Hales Prim. Orig. Man. i. v. 113 It being the sovereign Prerogative of Almighty God only, to be without variableness or shadow of change. 1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) II. xxviii. 173 The charge of variableness and inconsistency in judgment. 1782Knox Ess. xxv. I. 120 This temporary variableness of the mind. 1876‘Ouida’ Winter City vi, His conduct had a variableness about it. 1882M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal xi. II. 263 Is not that kind of variableness common to our poor human nature?
†c. Const. from. Obs.—1
1614Selden Titles Honor 1 The variablenesse of the Europeans from the Asians in Asiatique names. |