varioloid 
II. ii. Modified smallpox ; a mild form of 
smallpox which may abort at the vesicular 
stage, occurring usually in those who are par- 
tially protected by vaccination. The disease is 
seldom fatal, yet it is true smallpox, may be followed by 
pitting, and is capable of communicating by contagion the 
most virulent form of the disease. 
variolous (va-ri'o-lus), a. [= F. varMeux, < 
ML. variolosus, pitted with smallpox, < variola, 
smallpox: see variola.'] 1. Of or pertaining to 
or designating smallpox; variolar; variolic. 
2. In entom., having somewhat scattered and 
irregular varioles. 
Also variolar. 
variolo-vaccine (va-ii'o-lo-vak'sin), . Lymph 
or crusts obtained "from a heifer with variolo- 
vaccinia. 
variolo-vaccinia (va-ri"o-16-vak-sin'i-a), n. 
Vaccinia resulting from inoculation with small- 
pox-virus. 
variometer (va-ri-om'e-ter), H. [< L. varius, 
various, + Gr. uerpot', measure. ] An instrument 
used in comparing the intensity of magnetic 
forces, especially the magnetic force of the 
earth at different points for example, as va- 
ried by local causes. One form consists of four sta- 
tionary magnets in whose field is suspended a delicate 
magnetic needle ; the change in the position of this nee- 
dle as the instrument is placed at different points gives a 
means of comparing the corresponding external forces. 
variorum (va-ri-6'rum), a. [In the phrase va- 
riorum edition, a half -translation of L. editio 
cum notis variorum, edition with notes of vari- 
ous persons ; variorum, gen. pi. of varius, vari- 
ous: see various.'] Noting an edition of some 
work in which the notes of different commen- 
tators are inserted: as, a variorum edition of 
Shakspere. 
various (va'ri-us), a. [< L. varius, diverse, 
various, party-colored, variegated, also chang- 
ing, changeable, fickle, etc. Hence ult. variety, 
vary, variant, variegate, etc.] 1. Differing from 
one another; different; diverse; manifold: as, 
men of various occupations. 
So many and so various laws are given. 
Milton, P. L., xii. 282. 
How various, how tormenting, 
Are my Miseries ! Congreve, Semele, i. 1. 
2. Divers; several. 
Dukes of the most modern Austria . . . have all of them 
at various times borne rule over the whole or part of the 
older Austria of Lombardy. E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 5. 
3. Changeable; uncertain; inconstant; vari- 
able; unfixed. 
My comfort is that their [men's] judgment is too weak 
to endanger you, since by this it confesses that it mistakes 
you, in thinking you irresolved or various. 
Donne, Letters, xc. 
The servile suitors watch her various face, 
She smiles preferment, or she frowns disgrace. 
Sheridan, The Rivals, Epil. 
4. Exhibiting different characters; variform; 
diversiform; multiform. 
A man so various that he seemed to be 
Not one, but all mankind's epitome. 
Dri/den, Abs. and Achit., i. 545. 
5. Having a diversity of features ; not uniform 
or monotonous ; diversified. 
My grandfather was of a various life, beginning flrst at 
court, where, after he had spent most part of his means, 
he became a soldier, and made his fortune with his sword 
at the siege of St. (Juintens in France and other wars. 
Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Life (ed. Howells), p. 24. 
A happy rural seat of various view. 
Milton, S. L., iv. 247. 
A various host they came whose ranks display 
Each mode in which the warrior meets the fight. 
Scott, Vision of Don Roderick, The Vision, st. 57. 
It is a common belief that Mr. Webster was a various 
reader ; and I think it is true. 
R. Choate, Addresses, p. 235. 
variously (va'ri-us-li), adv. In various or dif- 
ferent ways; diversely; multifariously. 
variousness (va'ri-us-nes), . The character 
or state of being various; variety; multifari- 
ousness. 
variscite (var'i-sit), . [< L. Variscia, Voigt- 
land (now part of Saxony), + -jfe2.] A hydrous 
phosphate of aluminium, occurring in crystal- 
line or reniform crusts of a bright-green color. 
varix (va'riks), . ; pi. varices (var'i-sez). [= 
F. varies = Sp. variz, varice = Pg. varix = 
It. varice, < L. varix (varic-), a dilated vein, < 
earns, bent, stretched: see varus.~] 1. Ab- 
normal dilatation or tortuosity of a vein or 
other vessel of the body; also, a vein, artery, 
or lymphatic thus dilated or tortuous ; a vari- 
cose vessel. 2. [NL.] In conch,, a mark or 
scar on the surface of a shell denoting a for- 
mer position of the lip of the aperture, which 
6702 
has passed on with the periodical growth of 
the shell. Varices are conspicuous in some 
univalves. See cuts under mu-rex and tritoti. 
Aneurismal varix. See aneurimial. - Lymphatic 
varix, dilatation of the lymphatic vessels. 
varlet (var'let), n. [< ME. varlet, verlet, < OF. 
varlct, also vaslet, i-allet, vaillet, valet, F. valet, 
a groom, younker, squire, stripling, youth, ser- 
vant, for*0a*Ktef,<ML. *vassaletus, dim. of vas- 
sallus, a servant, vassal : see vassal. Doublet 
of valet.] 1. Originally, a very young man of 
noble or knightly birth, serving an apprentice- 
ship in knightly exercises and accomplishments 
while awaiting elevation to the rank of knight; 
hence (because such youths served as pages 
or personal servants to the knights who had 
charge of them), a body-servant or attendant. 
(See valet.) The name was also given to the 
city bailiffs or Serjeants. 
One of these laws [of Richard II.] enacts "that no var- 
lets called yeomen " should wear liveries : the other, " that 
no livery should be given under colour of a Gild or frater- 
nity, or of any other association, whether of gentry or ser- 
vants, or of commonalty. " 
English GHds(E. E. T. S.), p. cxlviii. 
Call here my varlet ; I'll unarm again. 
Shak., T. and C., i. 1. 1. 
Why, you were best get one o' the oarlets of the city, a 
Serjeant. B. Jomon, Every Man in his Humour, iv. 7. 
Three varlets that the king had hir'd 
Did likely him betray. 
Robin Hood Rescuing Witt Stutly (Child's Ballads, V. 283). 
2. Hence, one in a subordinate or menial posi- 
tion; a low fellow; a scoundrel; a rascal; a 
rogue : a term of contempt or reproach. 
Was not this a seditious varlet, to tell them this to their 
beards? Latimer, 3d Sermon bef. Edw. VI., 1549. 
Ana. My name is Ananias. 
Sub. Out, the varlet 
That cozened the apostles ! 
B. Jonson, Alchemist, ii. 1. 
Well. I am glad you are not the dull, insensible varlet 
you pretended to be. Sheridan, The Rivals, iv. 2. 
St. The coat-card now called the knave or jack 
(in French, valet). 
varletesst (var'let-es), n. [< varlet + -ens.] A 
female varlet ; a waiting-woman. Ricliardson, 
Clarissa Harlowe, I. xxxi. 
varletry (var'let-ri), .. [< varlet + -ry : see 
-ery.] The rabble; the crowd; the mob. 
The shouting varletry 
Of censuring Rome. Shaft., A. and C., v. 2. 56. 
varmin, varmint (var'min, var'mint), n. Dia- 
lectal variants of vermin. Also varment. 
Among the topmost leaves ... a dark looking savage 
was nestled, partly concealed by the trunk of the tree, and 
partly exposed, as though looking down ... to ascertain 
the effect produced by his treacherous aim. . . . "This 
must be looked to ! " said the scout, ..." Uncas, . . . 
we have need of all our we'pons to bring the cunning 
vannent from his roost." 
J. F. Cooper, Last of Mohicans, viii. 
The low public-house . . . was the rendezvous of the 
press-gang, . . . who were one and all regarded in the 
light of mean kidnappers and spies varmint, as the com- 
mon people esteemed them. 
Mrs. Gaslcell, Sylvia's Lovers, i. 
varnish (var'msh), H. [< ME. vernysh, ver- 
nisch, vernysche = D. vernis = MHG. firms, G. 
jirniss = Sw. fernissa = Dan. fen/is, < OF. (and 
F.) vernis, varnish (cf. vernis, adj., polished), 
= Pr. vernitz = Sp. berniz, barniz = Pg. verniz 
= It. vernice (> NGr. fiepviia), (ML. vermcimn, 
fernisiwn), varnish: see varnish, .] 1. A so- 
lution of resinous matter, forming a clear lim- 
pid fluid capable of hardening without losing 
its transparency: used by painters, gilders, 
cabinet-makers, and others for coating over the 
surface of their work in order to give it a shin- 
ing, transparent, and hard surface, capable of 
resisting in a greater or less degree the influ- 
ences of air and moisture. Theresinous substances 
most commonly employed for varnishes are amber, anime, 
copal, mastic, rosin, sandarac, and shellac, which may be 
colored with arnotto, asphalt, gamboge, saffron, turmeric, 
or dragon's-blood. The solvents are (a) fixed or volatile 
oils or mixtures of them (as linseed-oil or spirits of tur- 
pentine), and (6) concentrated alcohol or methylated spir- 
its ; hence the varnishes are divided into two classes, oil- 
varnishes and spirit-varnishes. 
Varnish, that makes ceilings net only shine, but last. 
Bacon, Vain Glory (ed. 1887). 
To Greatorex's, and there he showed me his varnish, 
which he hath invented, which appears every whit as 
good, upon a stick which he hath done, as the Indian. 
Pepys, Diary, I. 424. 
2. That which resembles varnish, either nat- 
urally or artificially ; a glossy or lustrous ap- 
pearance. 
So doe I more the sacred Tongue esteem 
(Though plaine and rurall it do rather seem, 
Then schoold Athenian ; and Diuinitie, 
For onely varnish, haue but Verity). 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 2. 
varnish-tree 
The varnixh of the holly and ivy. Macanlay. 
3. An artificial covering to give a fair appear- 
ance to any act or conduct; outside show; 
gloss; palliation; "whitewash." 
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence, 
And set a double varnish on the fame 
The Frenchman gave you. Shak., Hamlet, iv. 7. 133. 
Count Orloff, whose gigantic figure was all in a blaze 
with jewels, and in whose demeanour the untamed fero- 
city of the Scythian might be discerned through a thin 
varnish of French politeness. Macaulay, Mine. D'Arblay. 
4. In cermn., the glaze of pottery or porcelain. 
Amalgam, amber, antiseptic, asphalt varnish. 
See the qualifying words. Black varnish, a natural 
varnish or lacquer, the product of several trees (see var- 
nish tree), chiefly the Burmese or Martaban varnish, con- 
sisting of the sap of Melanorrhcea usitata. This is a thick, 
viscid, grayish, terebinthinous substance, soon turning 
black on exposure, and drying very slowly. Nearly every 
vessel in Burma, whether for holding liquids or solids, is 
lacquered with this substance, as well as furniture, idols, 
temples, etc. French varnish, a varnish made by dis- 
solving white shellac in alcohol. Sometimes a little gum 
sandarac is added. Lac varnish. Same as lacquer. 
Lac water-varnish. See la&. Lithographic var- 
nish. See lithographic. Piny varnish. Same as piny 
resin. See pinyi and Valeria. Printers' varnish. See 
printer. Sealing-wax varnish. See gealiivj-wax. 
Shellac varnish. See shellac. Varnish colors. See 
color. Varnish sumac. See sumac. 
varnish (var'nish), v. [Early mod. E. also ver- 
nisli; < ME. vernysslien, vernischen = D. vernis- 
sen = G. firnissen = Sw. fernissa = Dan. fer- 
nisse,<. OF. (and F.) vernisser, varnish, sleek. 
glaze over with varnish, = Sp. barnizar = Pg. 
(en)vernizar = It. verniciare, also vernlcare (cf . 
NGr. [lepvuad&iv, varnish) ; from the noun, but 
perhaps in part from the orig. verb, OF. vernir 
(verwiss-), varnish, perhaps < ML. as if *vitrinire, 
lit. ' glaze,' < ML. vitrinns ( > Pr. veirin), of glass, 
glassy, < vitrum, glass : see vitrine. The Rom. 
forms of the noun are somewhat irregular; the 
Sp. Pg. It. are prob. due in part to the OF.] 
1. trans. 1. To lay varnish on for the purpose 
of decorating or protecting the surface. See 
varnish, n., I. 
Wel hath this millere vernysshed his heed ; 
Ful pale he was fordronken, and nat reed. 
Chaucer, Reeve's Tale, 1. 229. 
The iron parts are varnished, either with a fat varnish 
or the residuum of some turpentine varnish. 
Workshop Receipts, 1st ser., p. 234. 
2. To cover with something that gives a fair 
external appearance; give an improved ap- 
pearance to. 
A wither'd hermit, five-score winters worn, 
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye : 
Beauty doth varnish age, as if new-born, 
And gives the crutch the cradle's infancy. 
Shak., L. L. L., iv. 3. 244. 
Close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal. 
Milton, P. L., ii. 485. 
3. To give an attractive external appearance to 
by rhetoric ; give a fair coloring to ; gloss over ; 
palliate : as, to varnish errors or deformity. 
The Church of Rome hath hitherto practised and doth 
profess the same adoration to the sign of the cross and 
neither less nor other than is due unto Christ himself, 
howsoever they varnish and qualify their sentence. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 86. 
Cato's voice was ne'er employ' d 
To clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes. 
Addison, Cato, ii. -2. 
Varnished glaze. See glaze. 
II. intrans. To apply varnish, in a general 
sense. 
varnisher (var'nish-er), n. [< varnish + -*!.] 
1. One who varnishes, or whose occupation is 
to varnish. 2. One who disguises or palliates ; 
one who gives a fair external appearance (to) ; 
one who glosses over. 
Thou varnisher of fools, and cheat of all the wise. 
Pope, Imit. of Earl of Rochester, On Silence. 
varnishing-day (var'nish-ing-da), n. A day 
before the opening of a picture exhibition on 
which exhibitors have the privilege of re- 
touching or varnishing their pictures after they 
have been placed on the walls. 
varnish-polish (var'nish-pol"ish), n. Seepol- 
<*P. 
varnish-tree (var'nish-tre), . Any one of sev- 
eral trees of which the sap or some secretion 
serves as a lacquer or varnish. The most important 
of these is the Japan varnish- or lacquer-tree (see lacquer- 
tree); also of high importance is the black, Burmese, or 
iiartaban varnish-tree, Melanorrhosa usitata, the theetsee 
of the Burmese, a tree of 50 or 60 feet, yielding on incision 
a sap of an extremely blistering property which forms a 
lacquer of very extensive local use (see black varnish, un- 
der varnish). In India the marking-nut, or Sylhet varnish- 
tree, Semecarpus Anacardium, with one or two allied 
species, yields in its fruit an excellent black varnish, as 
does Holitjarna lonyifolia in its bark. These all belong to 
the Anacardiacete. See Hymemea and Alevrites. False 
varnish-tree, the tree-of-heaven, Ailantus i/landulosa. 
Moreton Bay varnish-tree. See Pcntaa >. New 
