Etymology: < classical Latin summārium summary account or statement < summa sum n.¹ + -ārium -ary suffix¹. Compare summary adj.Compare Anglo-Norman summarie , summayre , Middle French, French sommaire (late 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, early 15th cent. in continental French), Spanish sumario (late 14th cent.), Italian sommario (a1580), and also Middle Low German summāria , summārium , all in the sense ‘digest, synopsis’. Specific senses. In sense 3 apparently influenced by summary adj. 3; compare also earlier summit n.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin summarius comprising the chief points or substance of a matter (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources), in e.g. cognitio summaria (Grosseteste), inquisitio summaria (Bracton) < classical Latin summa sum n.¹ + -ārius -ary suffix¹; compare classical Latin summārium , neuter noun (see summary n.). Compare the Scots equivalent summar adj.Compare Anglo-Norman somer , sommier , Old French, Middle French sommer , Middle French, French sommaire , the chief senses of which are: that is carried out rapidly or without delay (late 13th cent., earliest in somerement , sommierement summarily adv.), succinct, concise (1538). Compare also Old Occitan sommari , Catalan sumari (1507), Spanish sumario , Portuguese sumário , Italian sommario (all 14th cent.). Specific senses. Sense 3 reflects association with classical Latin summus (see sum n.¹). In sense 4 after sum n.¹