variablenessn.
/ˈvɛrɪəblnəs/, U.S. /ˈvɛriəbəlnəs/ The quality of being variable or changeable; tendency or liability to vary:† c. Const. from. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of things.
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the world > time > change > changeableness > [noun]
unstablenessc1340
varyingc1380
uncertaintyc1384
brotelnessc1386
were1390
instabilityc1422
bricklenessa1425
changeability?a1425
changeableness1447
vertibility1447
mutability?a1475
variableness?a1475
inconstance1509
mutationa1542
fickleness1548
variety1548
unconstancy1563
mobility1567
unstability1572
vicissitude1576
variousness1607
inconstancy1613
slipperinessa1618
alterableness1633
versatilousness1640
bottomlessness1642
lability1651
brittlety1652
versatileness1654
fluctuancy1659
fugitivenessa1661
alterability1661
permutability1662
unfixedness1668
mutablenessa1677
flittingnessa1680
frailness1687
flittiness1692
versability1721
plasticity1727
variability1771
unestablishment1776
fluctuabilitya1786
changefulness1791
unsettledness1799
versatility1802
harlequinism1808
fluidity1824
fitfulness1825
sensitiveness1825
insubstantiality1848
contingency1858
rootlessness1859
shiftingness1866
ficklety1888
variancy1888
impredicability1906
proteanism1909
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 201 Therefore mony difference be in a man, swiftenesse of sawle, variablenesse of witte.
1569 A. Golding tr. N. Hemmingsen Postill Ep. Ded. sig. a.iiv Whose interpretation being alwayes one without variablenesse.
1595 Drake's Voy. (1849) 19 The variableness of the winde and weather.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus iii. 1 The variablenes of times, places, & dispositions of churches.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 478. ⁋2 The Variableness of Fashion turns the Stream of Business.
1794 Jones in G. Adams Lect. Nat. & Experim. Philos. II. xxii. 468 (note) The variableness in refractive power of different sorts of glass.
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions I. 403 This variableness being the effect of the unequal temperature of the ice and water.
1838 T. Arnold in A. P. Stanley Life of Dr. Arnold (1844) II. viii. 126 With regard to the Examinations, I hear a general complaint of the variableness of the standard.
1885 Manch. Examiner 14 Apr. 8/6 The proverbial variableness of the Irish climate.
b. Of persons, the mind, conduct, etc.
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a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) ii. f. ccxxxvii/2 By a brother of his he hadde be Induced to soo grete varyablenesse and vnstedfastnesse.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. a*viiv The varyablenesse or vnstedfastnesse of man or woman.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Seneca in Panoplie Epist. 307 That the reading of many authors..drawe not after them the discommoditie of fickle headinesse and variablenesse.
1611 Bible (King James) James i. 17 The Father of lights, with whom is no variablenesse, neither shadow of turning. View more context for this quotation
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) i. v. 113 It being the sovereign Prerogative of Almighty God only, to be without variableness or shadow of change.
1747 S. Richardson Clarissa II. xxvi. 151 The charge of variableness and inconsistency in judgment.
1782 V. Knox Ess. I. xxv. 120 This temporary variableness of the mind.
1876 ‘Ouida’ In Winter City vi His conduct had a variableness about it.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal II. xi. 263 Is not that kind of variableness common to our poor human nature?
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1614 J. Selden Titles of Honor 1 The variablenesse of the Europeans from the Asians in Asiatique names.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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