variately

Variately is a term that can refer to a few distinct concepts depending on the context. In a general sense, "variately" signifies that something is characterized by variation, change, or a lack of uniformity. It implies a departure from a fixed or constant state.

In statistics, "variately" can describe a dataset or a phenomenon where there is a significant amount of dispersion or spread among individual data points. This lack of consistency is often quantified using measures of variability like variance or standard deviation. A variately distributed set of data means that the values are not clustered tightly around a central point but rather spread out over a range.

In the field of genetics, the term can relate to genetic variability, which is the presence of differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population. This variability is the raw material for evolution, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments. When discussing organisms or traits, saying they are variately expressed suggests that different individuals exhibit different forms or degrees of a particular characteristic.

More broadly, "variately" can be used in everyday language to describe situations or objects that are diverse, inconsistent, or exhibit a range of possibilities. For example, one might describe a collection of art pieces as variately styled, indicating that they do not all conform to a single artistic approach. The core idea remains the presence of difference and a deviation from sameness.