compendious

[ kuhm-pen-dee-uhs ]

adjective

1. of or like a compendium; containing the substance of a subject, often an exclusive subject, in a brief form; concise:

   a compendious history of the world.

   Synonyms: packed, succinct, comprehensive, summary

compendious

/ kəmˈpɛndɪəs /

adjective

1. containing or stating the essentials of a subject in a concise form; succinct

Derived Forms

• comˈpendiousness, noun
• comˈpendiously, adverb

Other Words From

• com·pendi·ous·ly adverb
• com·pendi·ous·ness noun
• uncom·pendi·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compendious¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word compendiōsus. See compendium, -ous

Example Sentences

David Frum on Allen Guelzo's compendious synthesis of new thinking about slavery and its aftermath.

From The Daily Beast

A very complete and compendious work, apparently accurate and in beautiful style.

From Project Gutenberg

To other persons they may serve as a compendious view of the most important discoveries relating to the subject.

From Project Gutenberg

It is, perhaps, too compendious; and I dislike its being given in the form of letters.

From Project Gutenberg

He sat down by his lamp and tried to read—to read a little compendious life of a great English statesman, out of a “series.”

From Project Gutenberg

But there is another way, more compendious still, of summing up his political chronicle.

From Project Gutenberg