Origin and history of varied

late 14c., varien, "change" something (transitive) in any way; also "undergo a change, be altered" (intransitive), from Old French variier "be changed, go astray; change, alter, transform" and directly from Latin variare "change, alter, make different," from varius "varied, different, spotted." This is of uncertain origin. De Vaan finds the possible etymologies that have been proposed speculative or unconvincing.

Also from late 14c. as "exist in a variety of possible forms; be unstable or inconsistent," also "differ (from), be different, deviate from expected pattern or plan." The sense of "disagree, have differing opinions" is by c. 1400. Related: Varied; varying.