summa

[ soom-uh, suhm-uh ]

noun

, plural sum·mae [soom, -ahy, suhm, -ee], sum·mas.

1. a comprehensive work or series of works covering, synthesizing, or summarizing a particular field or subject.
2. a work or series of works that is a summary of all human knowledge.

summa

/ ˈsʊmɑː /

noun

1. medieval Christianity theol a compendium of theology, philosophy, or canon law, or sometimes of all three together. The Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas, written between 1265 and 1274, was the most famous of all such compendia
2. rare.
   a comprehensive work or survey

Word History and Origins

Origin of summa¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin; Latin: sum

Word History and Origins

Origin of summa¹

C15: from Latin: sum ¹

Example Sentences

Michael Bernstein, a spokesman for Summa Health, a hospital system in Akron, said it received 15 patients, including 13 people who had injuries that were not life-threatening.

From New York Times

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Lyle Conrad was being removed from a transport van at Summa Health White Pond Medical Center in Akron when he somehow removed the boot and ran off around 8 a.m.

From Seattle Times

The second set of kylix fragments came from Summa Gallery, a Los Angeles dealership in which Hecht had partnered with Bruce McNall, a colorful U.S. businessman.

From New York Times

He entrusted his life’s theological works to Mueller, who has spent nearly two decades organizing them in a 16-volume, 25,000-page opus along the lines of Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica.”

From Seattle Times

Just 52, Siddhartha Mukherjee has checked off the summa boxes, kindling envy in the hearts and minds of lesser mortals, i.e., the rest of us.

From Seattle Times