Compendiary

/kəmˈpɛndiɛri/ adjective

Definition

Of, relating to, or having the nature of a compendium; presented in a condensed or summarized form.

Etymology

From compendium plus the suffix -ary (relating to, or of the nature of). The -ary suffix appears in words like dictionary, library, and secondary. The root compendium comes from Latin, originally meaning 'saving of expense.'

Kelly Says

Compendiary is a word that academic writers briefly embraced in the 1600s-1700s but abandoned in favor of the simpler 'compendious.' It's a reminder that English often has competing synonyms that battle for dominance—sometimes the shorter or simpler word wins, regardless of how precise the longer one is.

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