compendium
UK: kəmˈpen.di.əm | US: kəmˈpen.di.əm
n. a concise yet comprehensive summary of a larger work or subject
n. a collection of useful or noteworthy items, often in list form
compendium = com<together> + pend<weigh> + ium<noun suffix>
- com: Latin prefix meaning "together" or "with."
- pend: From Latin pendere ("to weigh" or "to hang"), reflecting the idea of gathering or balancing information.
- ium: A Latin suffix forming nouns, often indicating a place or collection.
Etymology Origin:
The word compendium originates from Latin compendium ("shortcut" or "savings"), derived from com- (intensive) + pendere ("to weigh"). Historically, it implied a "weighing together" of essential points, later evolving to mean a condensed summary. The term reflects efficiency—distilling vast content into a manageable form, much like balancing scales to find equilibrium.
The professor assigned a compendium of key articles instead of the full textbook.
The encyclopedia’s compendium of scientific terms is invaluable for quick reference.
She compiled a compendium of recipes from her travels across Europe.
The app offers a compendium of legal statutes for easy access.
His notes served as a compendium of the conference’s most important discussions.