adj.
different from one another; of different kinds or sorts.
▸having or showing different properties or qualities.
det.
&
pron.
more than one; individual and separate:
various people arrived late.
Derivative
- variously adv.
- variousness n.
Usage
The use of various as a pronoun followed by of (various of her friends had called) is sometimes regarded as incorrect, although words such as several and many are used in a similar way (several of her friends had called) without comment.
Etymology
ME: from L. varius ‘changing, diverse’ + -ous.