variorum

[ vair-ee-awr-uhm, -ohr- ]

adjective

1. containing different versions of the text by various editors:

   a variorum edition of Shakespeare.

2. containing many notes and commentaries by a number of scholars or critics:

   a variorum text of Cicero.

noun

1. a variorum edition or text.

variorum

/ ˌvɛərɪˈɔːrəm /

adjective

1. containing notes by various scholars or critics or various versions of the text

   a variorum edition

noun

1. an edition or text of this kind

Word History and Origins

Origin of variorum¹

1720–30; short for Latin ēditiō cum notīs variōrum edition with the notes of various persons

Word History and Origins

Origin of variorum¹

C18: from Latin phrase ēditiō cum notīs variōrum edition with the notes of various commentators

Example Sentences

In the case of a few of the more important poems, especially those dealing with the Revolution, I have given variorum readings.

From Project Gutenberg

When we survey the massive variorum edition of Shakespeare, we are struck by the circumstance that nothing similar has happened to any other national author.

From Project Gutenberg

It is alluded to by Shakespeare, and was contributed to the variorum edition by Blakeway.

From Project Gutenberg

The eleventh edition of Boswell’s Johnson was brought out by John Wilson Croker in 1831; in this the original text is expanded by numerous letters and variorum anecdotes and is already knee-deep in annotation.

From Project Gutenberg

Arranged by Centuries, with variorum illustrations, by C. G. Wheeler.

From Project Gutenberg