vary
Meaning
to change or be different in amount, level, or degree
to make something different by introducing changes
Structure
Usage
Prices vary depending on the season and location.
The recipes can be varied to suit different dietary needs.
Her mood seems to vary from day to day.
Etymology
The word 'vary' entered English in the 14th century from Old French varier, which itself originated from Latin variare ("to make diverse, change, alter"). The Latin verb is derived from the adjective varius, meaning "diverse, spotted, variegated," a term whose own origins are uncertain but may relate to the concept of mixture or difference. The core semantic thread from the literal "spotted" or "multicolored" to the abstract "to change" follows a common metaphorical path where visual diversity represents changeability. The modern English verb retains this fundamental sense of introducing or exhibiting difference and divergence from a standard or norm.
Analysis
var (from Latin varius, meaning "diverse, varied, spotted"). y (a verb-forming suffix in English, often from Old English -ian or French -ier).