gist

[jist]

noun

1. the main or essential part of a matter.

   What was the gist of his speech?

   Synonyms: import, kernel, burden, substance, point, essence

2. the ground of a legal action.

gist

/ dʒɪst /

noun

1. the point or substance of an argument, speech, etc

2. law the essential point of an action

Word History and Origins

Origin of gist¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from Anglo-French (cest action) gist “(this matter) lies,” 3rd-person singular present of Anglo-French, Old French gesir “to lie” (compare modern French ci-gît “here lies”), ultimately from Latin jacēre; adjacent ( def. ), hic jacet ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of gist¹

C18: from Anglo-French, as in cest action gist en this action consists in, literally: lies in, from Old French gésir to lie, from Latin jacēre, from jacere to throw

Example Sentences

The 'time of their lives', is the gist.

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But that’s the gist of what they would be asked to do, which bespeaks no small amount of hubris on Newsom’s part.

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The gist of Miller’s spiel — in fact, the worldview that he has been espousing for years — is that “illegal aliens” are responsible for all those ills, and exclusively responsible.

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This pretty much captures the gist of the show's debut season.

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Seventeen of the UK's largest pension firms already approved the gist of these reforms in a voluntary agreement earlier this month.

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Related Words

• summary 
• tenor 
• upshot