A.marking with various colours, embroidering, Pl.R.373a,401a, cf. IG 12.338.24,48; tapestry, weaving, PTeb.703.93.
2. in pl., pieces of embroidery, “γραφαὶ καὶ π.” X.Mem.3.8.10.
II. being marked with various colours, striped, spotted, Arist.HA518b16, 564a26.
2. varied aspect, diversity, “γινομένης π. ἐπὶ τῶν νοσημάτων” Hp.Epid.1.8; of the stars, “ἡ περὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν π.” Pl.R.529d; “π. χρωμάτων” Id.Phd. 110d; “Σικελικὴν π. ὄψου” Id.R.404d; “ἔστι περὶ τὴν ἐργασίαν [τῶν μελιττῶν] . . πολλὴ π.” Arist.HA623b26, cf. 539a3; “πραγμάτων” Plb.9.22.10; “τῆς πολιτείας” Id.6.3.3.
3. in literary style, music, etc., variety, intricacy, ornamentation, “αἱ περὶ τὴν λέξιν π.” Isoc.5.27, cf. D.H.Comp. 11,al.; “ἡ π. τῆς λύρας” Pl.Lg.812d; opp. μονῳδία, Plu.2.7b.
4. versatility, subtlety, mostly in bad sense, “π. πραπίδων” E.Fr.27(lyr.); “ταῦτ᾽ ἐδεῖτο λόγου τινὸς ἢ ποικιλίας” D.29.1: in Surgery, “οὔτετομὴ οὔτε καῦσις οὔτε ἄλλη π.” Hp.Art.62.
5. complexity of a subject, Sor. 1.2.
