excerpt
UK: ˈɛksɜːpt | US: ˈɛksɜːrpt
n. a short extract from a text, film, or piece of music
vt. to take a short extract from a text, film, or piece of music
The word "excerpt" originates from Latin excerptus, the past participle of excerpere ("to pluck out"), combining ex- ("out") and carpere ("to pluck"). This reflects the act of selectively extracting a portion from a larger work, much like plucking fruit from a tree. Over time, it evolved into Middle English via Latin, retaining its core meaning of extraction.
The article included an excerpt from the author’s latest novel.
She excerpted a few paragraphs for her research paper.
The documentary featured excerpts from historical speeches.
He read an excerpt of the poem aloud during the ceremony.
The teacher asked students to identify the main idea of the excerpt.