varia lectio

Meanings

nounvaria lectio (plural variae lectiones or (obsolete) variæ lectiones)

plural variae lectiones · obsolete plural variæ lectiones · alternative var. lect. · alternative v.l.

textual criticism and interpretationAny one of the interpretations or readings of a given passage in a text which differ from copy to copy, from edition to edition, from manuscript to manuscript, or from translation to translation.

Also see

Latin: varia (feminine singular form of varius, “different”; whence various) + lectiō (“a reading”; whence lection) = “a different reading”

German andere Lesart, unterschiedliche Lesung

andere Lesartany one of the readings of a passage in a text which differ from source to source
unterschiedliche Lesungany one of the readings of a passage in a text which differ from source to source

Greek διαφορετική γραφή

διαφορετική γραφή (diaforetikí grafí)any one of the readings of a passage in a text which differ from source to source

Cite this entry

APA

varia lectio. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/varia%20lectio

MLA

“varia lectio.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/varia%20lectio. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “varia lectio,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/varia%20lectio.