Compactus

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A collection of compacted material or items, often arranged in a specific manner
2. a form of organized storage or arrangement of a group of objects
3. a term used to describe a physical manifestation of density in a cluster or bunch

Etymology: Latin "compingere" meant "to fasten together," built from "com-" ("together") and "pangere" ("to fasten"). Its past participle, "compactus," described things that had been fixed or pressed firmly together, so a physical sense of solidity came first and the sense of crowding came later. The same root sits behind several familiar English words. "Pact" comes from the Latin "pactum," an agreement that binds two parties, and "impact" comes from "impactus," the participle of "impingere," which combines "in-" with "pangere." English took the adjective "compact" directly from the Latin participle, keeping its sense of closely packed or firmly joined.