Compendium
/kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/
nounC1
Definition
A compendium is a book or document that gives a summary or a complete list of information about one topic. It is usually shorter than a full book but includes the most important points or details. People use compendiums to learn quickly about a subject without reading many long books.
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See It in Action
A brief but complete collection of facts or information about one topic
- •The teacher gave us a compendium of grammar rules to study for the exam.
- •This compendium contains all the important laws you need to know.
- •The compendium of recipes is perfect for beginners who want easy meals.
A book or document that summarizes a large subject into a smaller form
- •The compendium on world history helped me understand key events quickly.
- •Scientists published a compendium of recent research findings.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "compendium" like a "book," but smaller and focused only on the most important facts about one subject.
- ✓Picture a small, neat book or booklet that you can carry easily and read to get all key information fast.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to learn fast for a test or project and have one clear place with all the main ideas.
- ✓Sounds like "come-PEN-dee-um" → imagine a pen writing down all important notes in one place.
- ✓Think of a travel guidebook that shows only the best places to visit, not every single detail.
- ✓NOT like a "novel" (long story with many details), a compendium is short and fact-based.
- ✓NOT like "encyclopedia" (very large and detailed), a compendium is shorter and more focused.
- ✓NOT like "summary" (very short), a compendium is longer and more complete but still brief.
Try Other Words
- •Collection: a group of things or information gathered together (Use when emphasizing the gathering of items or facts)
- •Digest: a short report or summary of information (Use when the focus is on making information easier to understand)
- •Manual: a book that gives instructions (Use when the compendium is mainly for teaching how to do something)
- •Handbook: a small book giving useful facts or instructions (Use when you want a portable guide with key information)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "com-" (together) + "pendere" (Latin root meaning "to weigh" or "to hang") + "-ium" (noun ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin "compendium," meaning a saving or shortening, a brief summary
- •Historical development: Originally meant a shortcut or saving of time by giving a short version of something long
- •Modern usage: Used for books or documents that collect important information in a short, organized form, often for study or reference
Reflect & Connect
•How might a compendium be more useful than a full textbook in learning new information?
•Can you think of situations where having a compendium would save you time or effort?
Fill in the blanks
1.The student used a compendium ___ all the key facts before the test to study quickly.
2.Unlike a full book, a compendium ___ only the most important information in a shorter form.
3.When writing a report, the author included a compendium ___ recent research studies on the topic.
4.A compendium is different from a summary because it is usually ___ and more complete.
5.The compendium ___ a variety of topics but focused mainly on the history of art.
6.Teachers often provide a compendium ___ grammar rules to help students learn faster.
7.You can find a compendium ___ recipes that are easy to prepare for beginners.