compendium

noun

com·​pen·​di·​um kəm-ˈpen-dē-əm How to pronounce compendium (audio)
plural compendiums or compendia kəm-ˈpen-dē-ə How to pronounce compendium (audio)
1
: a brief summary of a larger work or of a field of knowledge : abstract
a one-volume compendium of the multivolume original
2
a
: a list of a number of items
b
: collection, compilation
a compendium of folk tales

Examples of compendium in a Sentence

a one-volume compendium of information He published a compendium of folk tales.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Skip them all and grab The Creative Entrepreneur, a compendium of advice from 10 industry titans whose insights will inform, amuse, and inspire you. airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025 That the play hasn’t been restaged has fueled the idea, fed by Beaulieu’s compendium, that copies no longer exist. Elon Green, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2025 In an 1878 Sheffield compendium, the Brazil hoe came with a total of 165 options for sizes and finishes. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 15 Feb. 2025 But seeking a central compendium, Geerling compiles gear, tips, and compatibility advice for mini-builds, along with ongoing discussions about the merits of individual components and broader build-out strategies. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for compendium

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, saving, shortcut, from compendere to weigh together, from com- + pendere to weigh — more at pendant

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of compendium was in 1589

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Cite this Entry

“Compendium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compendium. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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