compendium

noun com·pen·di·um \ kəm-ˈpen-dē-əm \

|Updated on: 23 Jul 2018

Examples: compendium in a Sentence

Definition of compendium

plural compendiums or compendia play \kəm-ˈpen-dē-ə\

1 : a brief summary of a larger work or of a field of knowledge : abstract

a one-volume compendium of the multivolume original

2 a : a list of a number of items

b : collection, compilation

a compendium of folk tales

See compendium defined for English-language learners

Examples of compendium in a Sentence

a one-volume compendium of information
He published a compendium of folk tales.

Recent Examples of compendium from the Web

Shipley learned of the case initially while reading through a compendium of reports of decisions from the state appeals courts.

— greg moran, sandiegouniontribune.com, "State high court strikes down rule requiring poor to pay for own court reporter in civil courts," 6 July 2018
Blame it on my bucket list, an ever-lengthening compendium of inexplicable desires.

— nancy moreland, The Seattle Times, "Ready for takeoff: A nervous flyer takes on America’s Seaplane City," 3 July 2018
For me that’s a compendium of [Spielberg’s] cinema. .

— nicole sperling, HWD, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Director J.A. Bayona Has More Than Dinosaurs on His Mind," 20 June 2018
The energy giant BP’s annual Statistical Review of World Energy is a compendium of facts, figures, charts, and graphs on global energy use.

— david roberts, Vox, "The most depressing energy chart of the year," 16 June 2018
Though most of the attacks described in the affidavit are heavily redacted, what’s left reads like a compendium of horror stories.

— avi selk, Washington Post, "The most disturbing parts of the 171-page warrants for the Golden State Killer suspect," 2 June 2018
Eventually the collection grew into what is now the Clown Egg Registry, a compendium of hundreds of eggs housed inside the London Clowns’ Gallery-Museum in the UK.

— jennifer nalewicki, Smithsonian, "How Do You Copyright a Clown Face? Paint It On an Egg," 18 May 2018
In negotiations, Democrats checked off several items in the Better Deal, a compendium of policies backed by Democrats in the past and brainstormed in meetings last spring and summer.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Powell's problem: Will new Fed chair try to save stock market?," 9 Feb. 2018
Comprised of nearly 40 restaurants, his compendium includes new reviews, a glossary, and a map to find it all.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "A guide to Mexican South Philly, the Eagles' unusual draft | Morning Newsletter," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compendium.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compendium

Medieval Latin, from Latin, saving, shortcut, from compendere to weigh together, from com- + pendere to weigh — more at pendant

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1589

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

compendium Synonyms

Synonyms

album, anthology, compilation, miscellany, reader;

Related Words

almanac, digest, garland, symposium;

casebook, sourcebook;

archives, corpus, library, miscellanea;

COMPENDIUM Defined for English Language Learners

compendium

noun

Definition of compendium for English Language Learners

: a collection of things (such as photographs, stories, facts, etc.) that have been gathered together and presented as a group especially in the form of a book