Excerpts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A selected part or passage taken from a larger work, such as a book or article
2. A brief portion of text, often used to highlight key ideas or themes from the original source
3. A concise fragment or quotation extracted from a broader document for analysis or citation purposes

Etymology: The word "excerpts" traces back to the Latin verb "excerpere," meaning "to pick out" or "to pluck out." This verb itself is composed of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out," combined with "carpere," which means "to seize" or "to gather." The original sense was very much about selecting or extracting pieces from a larger whole, a concept that has persisted into modern usage. In English, the noun form emerged in the early 17th century, initially used to denote passages or segments taken from a broader text. These selected portions were often quoted or cited to highlight particular points without reproducing entire works. The usage was especially common in scholarly and literary contexts, where writers or editors would "excerpt" important or illustrative material. Over time, the noun came to be used more generally beyond written texts, extending to any set of selected parts from a larger body—such as excerpts from music, speeches, or films. This broadened sense reflects the continued importance of selective presentation, allowing audiences to engage with curated highlights rather than overwhelming amounts of information. This word shares a root with "excerpt" as a verb, where the action of selecting is foregrounded, but the noun form firmly establishes the product of that action. Its lineage through Latin also ties it to other English words related to gathering or harvesting, showing a neat metaphorical link from plucking fruit to plucking text.

Synonyms: extracts, passages, snippets, fragments, sections