An encyclopaedic study of the Latin language in twenty-five books, dedicated to Cicero. Varro divided the work into three groups: etymology (Books II–VII), inflection (VIII–XIII), and syntax (XIV–XXV). Only Books V–X survive substantially, and even these are damaged. The surviving portions are our single most important source for the history and structure of Latin, preserving archaic forms and etymologies found nowhere else.
The dedication and general introduction to the study of language. Varro's classification of the subject into etymology, analogy, and syntax.
Entirely lost.
Fragments in Funaioli/Goetz-Schoell ed.; references in surviving Books 5–10; Gellius
The first book on etymology, arguing for the validity and importance of etymological inquiry against Stoic scepticism.
Entirely lost. Would have set out Varro's philosophical approach to language.
Fragments; references in Varro's own surviving Books 5–10; Gellius, Priscian
Etymology continued: the origins of words relating to the natural world — land, water, sky, and celestial bodies.
Entirely lost.
Fragments; references in surviving books; Nonius Marcellus
Etymology of words relating to time, the calendar, and the seasons. Given Varro's expertise in Roman religion, this would have been extraordinarily valuable.
Entirely lost. A major loss for our understanding of the Roman calendar.
Fragments; references in surviving books; Gellius, Priscian
Etymology of words for places and things: the names of Rome's hills, regions, and buildings. A treasure trove of Roman topography, preserving place-name etymologies found nowhere else.
Etymology of words relating to time, actions, and the calendar. The Roman festivals, the names of the months, and the vocabulary of daily life.
Poetic and archaic vocabulary: Varro explains rare words found in early Latin literature, including terms from the plays of Plautus and the carmina of Ennius. Essential for understanding Republican Latin.
The great debate: analogy versus anomaly in language. Varro presents the anomalist case — that language is fundamentally irregular and governed by usage rather than rules.
Opening sections lost. Text begins imperfectly.
The analogist response: the case for regularity in inflection, drawing on Stoic linguistic theory. Varro mediates between the extremes with characteristic balance.
A resolution of the analogy-anomaly debate and further discussion of declension and conjugation. The last surviving book — everything after this point is lost.
Damaged at the end. The text breaks off, and Books XI–XXV are entirely lost.
The first of three books applying the analogy-anomaly discussion specifically to noun declension.
Entirely lost.
Fragments; Priscian; Gellius; references in Varro's own De Lingua Latina 8.1
Continuation of noun declension, likely treating irregular and defective nouns.
Entirely lost.
Fragments; Priscian; Charisius; references in surviving books
The conclusion of the inflection section, probably covering verb conjugation.
Entirely lost.
Fragments; Priscian; Gellius; Nonius
The beginning of the syntax section — how words combine into sentences. This would have been the first systematic Latin grammar.
Entirely lost. Fifteen books on Latin syntax, lost without trace — an incalculable loss for historical linguistics.
Very few fragments; Priscian; Nonius
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Very few fragments; Priscian; Nonius
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Very few fragments; Priscian; Nonius
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Very few fragments; Priscian; scattered citations
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Very few fragments; Priscian; scattered citations
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Very few fragments; Priscian; scattered citations
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references
Syntax continued.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references
The final book on syntax and perhaps a general conclusion to the work. Dedicated to Cicero, who did not live to read it.
Entirely lost.
Virtually no fragments survive; known only from Varro's own references