compendium

noun

com·​pen·​di·​um kəm-ˈpen-dē-əm 

plural compendiums or compendia kəm-ˈpen-dē-ə 

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

Synonyms

• album
• anthology
• collectanea
• compilation
• florilegium
• miscellany
• reader

Examples of compendium in a Sentence

a one-volume compendium of information

He published a compendium of folk tales.

Recent Examples on the Web

The meat sits on a sauce of anchovies, capers, and parsley, and is topped with balsamic mayonnaise—resulting in a bite-size compendium of regional ingredients. —Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2025

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. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2025

In the spirit of looking back on the previous season and remembering all the moments big and small that defined it, here is a compendium of tennis stories of all kinds from The Athletic’s tennis writers, Matt Futterman and Charlie Eccleshare, with a few guest appearances. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024

Considering the chalets in Gstaad and Aspen are some of the most spectacular on the planet, Alpine Style is a true compendium of resort luxury. —Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024

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