compendiumn.
/kəmˈpɛndɪəm/, U.S. /kəmˈpɛndiəm/ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > a quick method
compendium1581
short cut1589
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xlii. 261 [He] may perhaps wish for some way without Grammer, and couet a Compendium.
2. figurative.1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse xv. sig. M2 Others hauing but the compendium of excellency he alone had it in the greatest volumes.
a. An abridgement or condensation of a larger work or treatise, giving the sense and substance, within smaller compass.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > non-fiction > summary or epitome > [noun] > compendium or abridgment
abridgementa1500
epitome1529
compendie1574
compendiary1589
compendium1589
compend1596
reductory1699
compost1837
condensation1867
redaction1948
1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. **4v These men..doe pound their capacitie in barren Compendiums.
1668 M. Hale Pref. Rolle's Abridgm. 5 There were an incredible number of..Volumes of their Laws; whereupon that..Prince..reduced them into a better Compendium.
1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature Demonstrative Evid. 79 The writers of compendiums of mathematics and natural philosophy.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) Pref. 6 Many highly valuable compendia of Physical Geography are extant.
b. An epitome, a summary, a brief.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > prose > non-fiction > summary or epitome > [noun]
abbreviationa1464
summary1509
breve1523
bridgement1523
abbreviate1531
summulary1533
breviary1547
extract1549
digest1555
brief1563
promptuary1577
abbreviature1578
institute1578
breviation1580
breviate1581
compendiary1589
symbol1594
ramass1596
compendium1608
abridgement1609
digestment1610
digestion1613
epitome1623
abridge1634
comprisal1640
comprisurea1641
syntome1641
medulla1644
multum in parvo1653
contracta1657
landscape1656
comprehension1659
sylloge1686
contraction1697
résumé1782
compend1796
sum-up1848
roundup1884
wrap-up1960
1608 T. Middleton Familie of Love (new ed.) v. sig. H3 Pu. You vnderstand my case now?... Dri. I do..heers the Compendium.
1619 M. Drayton Poems (new ed.) To Rdr. 312 By way of Briefe or Compendium.
1713 A. Pope in Guardian 10 June 1/1 Indexes and Dictionaries..are the Compendium of all Knowledge.
1853 J. F. W. Herschel Pop. Lect. Sci. (1873) iv. §30. 167 Admiral Fitzroy's interesting compendium of the state of the barometer, etc.
c. transferred and figurative. A condensed representation, an embodiment in miniature; an abstract.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > reduction in size or extent > [noun] > reproducing on a smaller scale > that which is
abstract1561
brief1563
scantling1576
miniaturea1586
compendium1602
compendiment1605
modelet1605
baby figure1609
breviary1609
modulet1610
microcosm1611
epitomea1616
compend1642
breviate1695
reduction1728
mini1978
1602 Returne fr. Parnassus (Arb.) iii. iv. 44 Old Sir Raderick, that new printed compendum of all iniquity.
1634 in T. Herbert Relation Trav. Alphabet. Table sig. Gg4/2 Great Brittaine, a Compendium of the World for varietie of Excellencies.
1766 L. Sterne Serm. v. 112 A case..which may be looked upon as the compendium of all charity.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. vi. 102 A compendium of extravagances and incongruities.
d. An abbreviation whereby two or more letters are expressed by a single character.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > written character > [noun] > letter > ligature or compendium
diphthong1587
ligature1693
compendium1833
1833 G. S. Faber Recapit. Apostasy 88 In the construction of these compendia or..contractions, the compendium was framed out of the two distinct cursive letters ς and τ.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [noun] > using to the best effect
compendium1638
economizing1805
economy1807
economization1842
1638 Bp. J. Wilkins Discov. New World (1684) i. 29 Shewing a Compendium of Providence, that could make the same Body a World, and a Moon.
1668 P. M. Myst. & Miracles Love vi. 71 in W. Charleton Ephesian & Cimmerian Matrons Nor do we think that substraction a loss, but a Compendium.
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. 372 Double Consonants..for the Compendium of writing, are..expressed by single Characters.
a1734 R. North Lives of Norths I. 248 The judges, for compendium of travel, took the first town..capable of receiving them.
a1734 R. North Exam. (1740) iii. x. 660 These Methods are used for Compendium.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §32 The manner..is herein copied, on account of the compendium thereby suggested.
1812 R. Woodhouse Elem. Treat. Astron. xviii. 199 The sole object of this..is compendium of calculation.
4.
a. A box, etc., containing or comprising several different games.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > [noun] > collection of games in one box
compendiumc1899
c1899 (title) Guide to the compendium of games. Comprising rules for playing—backgammon, besique, chess, [etc.].
1960 R. C. Bell Board & Table Games vii. 172 The antique compendium of games from western India.
b. A package of the stationery required for letter-writing.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > [noun] > package of stationery for letter-writing
compendium1923
1923 H. A. Maddox Dict. Stationery 20 Compendium, a line of stationery goods which was in considerable demand during the war for soldiers' use, comprising a pad of note, envelopes, and blotting.
1938 E. Bowen Death of Heart ii. iii. 215 Portia bought a compendium—lightly ruled violet paper, purple lined envelopes.
1960 K. Amis Take Girl like You xiii. 158 He shut the compendium.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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