READINGS, or Various Readings, in criticism, are the different manners of reading the texts of authors in ancient manuscripts, where a diversity has arisen from the corruption of time, or the ignorance of copyists. A great part of the business of critics lies in settling the readings by confronting the various readings of the several manuscripts, and considering the agreement of the words and sense.
Readings are also used for a sort of commentary or gloss on a law, text, passage, or the like, to shew the sense an author takes it in, and the application he conceives to be made of it.
RE-AGGRAVATION, in the Roman ecclesiastical law, the last monitory, published after three admonitions, and before the last excommunication. Before they proceed to fulminate the last excommunication, they publish an aggravation, and a re-aggravation. Fervet observes, that in France the minister is not allowed to come to re-aggravation, without the permission of the bishop or official, as well as that of the lay judge. See EXCOMMUNICATION.