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

Perhaps no less important, this compendium captures both the end of the Pahlavi monarchy and the start of the theocracy that still governs Iran, granting viewers an often telling glimpse of Persian society in flux.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The release of “Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run” is accompanied by a new compendium of standout tracks by McCartney and Wings.

Read more on Salon

Those writings, discovered in her New York City apartment after she died in her Alabama hometown nine years ago, have been gathered into the welcome hybrid compendium “The Land of Sweet Forever.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Corporate earnings calls provide a mixed picture similar to the Fed’s Beige Book, the compendium of anecdotes from the 12 district banks prepared for the Oct. 28-29 Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Boockvar says.

Read more on Barron's

The magician Ricky Jay’s compendium of actual “unique, eccentric and amazing entertainers” offers a parade of con artists, charlatans, escapologists, daredevils, mesmerists, contortionists and sideshow acts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal