Compendium

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəmˈpɛn.di.əm/

Definitions

1. A comprehensive collection of information or items on a particular subject, compiled systematically in one volume
2. a condensed yet thorough gathering of essential knowledge, facts, or writings organized into a single accessible reference
3. a systematic assembly of concise information covering the main points of a subject in abbreviated form

Etymology: Before it named a handy reference book, "compendium" meant a saving or shortcut. The Romans took the word from the verb "pendere," "to weigh," and attached "com-," "with," so the literal sense is something weighed together. Weighing things together was a way of economising: a merchant who combined sums or goods on one scale gained time and effort, and that sense of gain stayed attached to the noun. From that practical root, the word drifted toward the idea of abbreviation. A compendium was what you got when a larger body of material was gathered, pressed down, and made quicker to handle. Over the centuries, that abbreviating sense narrowed into the modern meaning: a condensed collection of essential knowledge, arranged for easy consultation.

Synonyms: summary, digest, collection, portfolio, anthology