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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Los Angeles Times

His 55-minute set of variations, his last major work — and his largest — for solo piano is a compendium of what the composer could do and what the keyboard instrument of 1825 could do.

From Los Angeles Times

Her complaint contains a footnote stating that the messages, including a 22-page compendium of texts submitted as an exhibit with the complaint, came through the “legal process, including a civil subpoena.”

From Los Angeles Times