ποικίλος ποῐκίλος, η, ον many-coloured, spotted, mottled, pied, dappled, of leopards, fawns, Hom., etc. of robes, wrought in various colours, broidered, Il., etc.; ἐν ποικίλοις κάλλεσιν, of a rich carpet, Aesch.; so, τὰ ποικίλα Aesch. of metal work, τεύχεα π. χαλκῷ in-wrought with brass, Il., etc.: but, π. δεσμός intricate, Od. ἡ στοὰ ἡ ποικίλη, the Poecile or great hall at Athens adorned with paintings of the battle of Marathon by Polygnotus, Aeschin., etc. metaph. changeful, various, diversified, manifold, Aesch., Plat.;— π. μῆνες the changing months, Pind. of Art, π. ὕμνος a song of changeful strain or full of diverse art, Pind.; so, ποικίλον κιθαρίζων Pind. intricate, complex, Hdt., Soph., etc.: —adv., ποικίλως αὐδώμενος speaking in double sense, Soph. 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. changeable, changeful, unstable, Arist.:— ποικίλως ἔχειν to be different, Xen.