Diversity, n.; pl. Diversities.
Etymology: [F. diversité, L. diversitas, fr. diversus. See Diverse.]
1. A state of difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness. They will prove opposite; and not resting in a bare diversity, rise into a contrariety. South.
2. Multiplicity of difference; multiformity; variety. "Diversity of sounds." Shak. "Diversities of opinion." Secker.
3. Variegation. "Bright diversities of day." Pope.
Syn. -- See Variety.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for diversity; he lists it under change, difference.
Where he writes about it:
Variety involves more than two objects; so, in general, does diversity; variation is a difference in the condition or action of the same object at different times. — from difference
Synonyms
changedifferencealterationcontrarietycontrastconversiondisagreementdiscrepancydiscriminationdisparitydissimilaritydissimilitudedistinctiondivergenceinconsistencyinequalityinnovationmutationnoveltyregenerationrenewalrenewingrevolutiontransformationtransitiontransmutationunlikenessvariationvarietyvicissitude