compendium

Also com·pend

[kuhm-pen-dee-uhm]

noun

plural

compendiums, compendia 

1. a brief treatment or account of a subject, especially an extensive subject; concise treatise.

   a compendium of medicine.

   Synonyms: conspectus, digest, survey

2. a summary, epitome, or abridgment.

3. a full list or inventory.

   a compendium of their complaints.

compendium

/ kəmˈpɛndɪəm /

noun

1. a book containing a collection of useful hints

2. a selection, esp of different games or other objects in one container

3. a concise but comprehensive summary of a larger work

Word History and Origins

Origin of compendium¹

1575–85; < Latin: gain, saving, shortcut, abridgment, equivalent to com- com- + pend- (stem of pendere to cause to hang down, weigh) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of compendium¹

C16: from Latin: a saving, literally: something weighed, from pendere to weigh

Example Sentences

One of the ongoing hallmarks of the Lennon estate’s legacy releases, the accompanying compendium, compiled by Simon Hilton, is simply magnificent.

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The Live Nation-produced event at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center was booked as a compendium of cutting-edge composers to showcase their film work in an unorthodox live setting.

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The compendium features selections from Limón’s first six books, along with an entirely new collection of her word magic.

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The program will be a quick-paced compendium with short segments that range from “breaking headlines and the day’s biggest stories to entertainment buzz and viral videos.”

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Popular Bachardy books like “Hollywood” and “Stars in My Eyes” are compendiums of many of those movie star drawings, and lots of them are very good.

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