gist

[ jist ]

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.

gist

/ dʒɪst /

noun

1. the point or substance of an argument, speech, etc
2. law the essential point of an action

Word History and Origins

Origin of gist¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of gist¹

C18: from Anglo-French, as in cest action gist en this action consists in, literally: lies in, from Old French gésir to lie, from Latin jacēre, from jacere to throw

Example Sentences

“The general gist of saying everything is worse, is dangerous — it’s not true. But aesthetically, things have gotten worse,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The rest of us can watch — we may even understand the gist of their conversations — but their world is theirs alone.

From Los Angeles Times

That was the gist of headlines two years ago, when Swift’s Eras Tour resulted in a ticket-sales fiasco of epic proportions.

From Los Angeles Times

“No reasonable jury could have accepted the gist of plaintiff’s testimony, awarded $38 million in damages, and found less than 116 incidents.”

From Seattle Times

The researchers showed that as flies encounter an odor signal, the specific pattern of interference between the receptors helps flies quickly compute the "gist" of the odor's meaning: "Is it good or bad for me?"

From Science Daily

Related Words

• summary
• tenor
• upshot