summa

American  

[soom-uh, suhm-uh] / ˈsʊm ə, ˈsʌm ə /

noun

plural

summae, summas

1. a comprehensive work or series of works covering, synthesizing, or summarizing a particular field or subject.

2. a work or series of works that is a summary of all human knowledge.

---

summa British  

/ ˈsʊmɑː /

noun

1. medieval Christianity theol a compendium of theology, philosophy, or canon law, or sometimes of all three together. The Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas, written between 1265 and 1274, was the most famous of all such compendia

2. rare a comprehensive work or survey

---

Etymology

Origin of summa

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin; Latin: sum

Compare meaning

How does summa compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Magna vs. summa

Example Sentences

Lastly, Thomas Aquinas’s “Summa Theologica” is influential for its arguments on the existence of God, ethics and virtue.

From The Wall Street Journal

According to Dr. Summa Bibby of UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, scientists have studied yellow fever for many decades, yet this is the first time a complete 3D model of a fully mature yellow fever virus particle has been captured at near-atomic resolution.

From Science Daily

In June, Finland’s Summa Defence merged with Meriaura, a shipping company, to dual-list the group in Stockholm and Helsinki.

From The Wall Street Journal

Michael Bernstein, a spokesman for Summa Health, a hospital system in Akron, said it received 15 patients, including 13 people who had injuries that were not life-threatening.

From New York Times

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Lyle Conrad was being removed from a transport van at Summa Health White Pond Medical Center in Akron when he somehow removed the boot and ran off around 8 a.m.

From Seattle Times