View synonyms for compendium

compendium

[ kuhm-pen-dee-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural com·pen·di·ums, com·pen·di·a [k, uh, m-, pen, -dee-, uh].

a brief treatment or account of a subject, especially an extensive subject; concise treatise:
a compendium of medicine.
Synonyms: conspectus, digest, survey
a summary, epitome, or abridgment.
a full list or inventory:
a compendium of their complaints.

compendium

/ kəmˈpɛndɪəm /

noun

a book containing a collection of useful hints
a selection, esp of different games or other objects in one container
a concise but comprehensive summary of a larger work

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of compendium¹

1575–85; < Latin: gain, saving, shortcut, abridgment, equivalent to com- com- + pend- (stem of pendere to cause to hang down, weigh) + -ium -ium

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of compendium¹

C16: from Latin: a saving, literally: something weighed, from pendere to weigh

Discover More

Example Sentences

“Science isn’t a compendium of facts, it’s a process,” she says.

From Science Magazine

"It's not him retreating into this very fuzzy memory. I have this wonderful interactive compendium I can turn to."

From BBC

He continues that adding new projects, like “Lucky Ones,” to the compendium of Holocaust-related materials keeps the conversation going so people don’t necessarily come into a production like “Cabaret” without “that keyhole to peer through.”

From Los Angeles Times

The address was a compendium of Francis’ priorities, including the need to ease the suffering of people affected by war, natural disasters and famine in parts of the world he has himself visited.

From New York Times

My iPhone photo album is a compendium of a life centered around the dining table.

From Salon

compendious compensable

Browse