early 15c., "characterized by variety," from Latin varius "changing, different, diverse" (see vary). Meaning "different from one another, having a diversity of features" is recorded from 1630s. Related: Variously.
the various reports all agreed
his disguises are many and various
various experiments have failed to disprove the theory
cited various reasons for his behavior
animals as various as the jaguar and the cavy and the sloth
his various achievements are impressive
variety
variform
varify
variola
variorum
various
varlet
varmint
varnish
varsity
varus