ποικίλος
Alt. ποι^κίλος, η, ον
I. "many-coloured, spotted, mottled, pied, dappled", of leopards, fawns, Hom., etc.
II. of robes, "wrought in various colours, broidered", Il., etc.; ἐν ποικίλοις κάλλεσιν, of a rich carpet, Aesch.; so, τὰ ποικίλα id=Aesch.
2. of metal work, τεύχεα π. χαλκῷ "in-wrought" with brass, Il., etc.: but, π. δεσμός "intricate", Od.
3. ἡ στοὰ ἡ ποικίλη, "the Poecile or great hall at Athens adorned with paintings" of the battle of Marathon by Polygnotus, Aeschin., etc.
III. metaph. "changeful, various, diversified, manifold", Aesch., Plat.;— π. μῆνες the "changing" months, Pind.
2. of Art, π. ὕμνος a song "of changeful strain or full of diverse art", id=Pind.; so, ποικίλον κιθαρίζων id=Pind.
3. "intricate, complex", Hdt., Soph., etc.: —adv., ποικίλως αὐδώμενος speaking "in double sense", Soph.
b. of abstruse knowledge, "intricate, subtle", ποικίλον τι εἰδέναι Eur.; οὐδὲν π. nothing "abstruse or difficult", Plat.:—so, of persons, "subtle, wily", Aesch.; π. γὰρ ἁνήρ Ar.
4. "changeable, changeful, unstable", Arist.:— ποικίλως ἔχειν to be "different", Xen.