gist

American  

[jist] / dʒɪst /

noun

1. the main or essential part of a matter.

   What was the gist of his speech?

   Synonyms:

   import , kernel , burden , substance , point , essence

2. the ground of a legal action.

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gist British  

/ dʒɪst /

noun

1. the point or substance of an argument, speech, etc

2. law the essential point of an action

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Etymology

Origin of gist

First recorded in 1720–30; from Anglo-French (cest action) gist “(this matter) lies,” 3rd-person singular present of Anglo-French, Old French gesir “to lie” (compare modern French ci-gît “here lies”), ultimately from Latin jacēre; adjacent ( def. ), hic jacet ( def. )

Example Sentences

In a novel of many threads, this is the gist: The saved are those who aren’t ashamed of who they are or where they came from.

From The Wall Street Journal

That point is also the gist of the bipartisan letter, signed by 33 Republicans and five Democrats.

From The Wall Street Journal

There's still time to catch up was his gist.

From BBC

The 'time of their lives', is the gist.

From BBC

But that’s the gist of what they would be asked to do, which bespeaks no small amount of hubris on Newsom’s part.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• summary
• tenor
• upshot