Compendious

Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

English (UK): /kəmˈpɛndɪəs/

English (US): /kəmˈpɛndiəs/

Definitions

• Containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way.
• Succinct yet complete in scope.

Usage Examples

• The professor wrote a compendious history of medieval Europe.
• His speech was compendious, covering all key aspects in just a few minutes.

Etymology

Derived from Latin compendiosus, meaning "brief, saving time," from compendium (a shortening).

Synonyms

• Concise
• Succinct
• Summary
• Abridged
• Compact

Antonyms

• Lengthy
• Wordy
• Verbose
• Elaborate

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /kəmˈpɛndɪəs/
• American English: /kəmˈpɛndiəs/
• Australian English: /kəmˈpɛndɪəs/

Historical Usage

"Compendious" has been used since the 15th century to describe writing and speech that is both comprehensive and brief.

Cultural Nuances

In legal and academic writing, "compendious" is valued as it denotes precision without unnecessary elaboration.

More Information

The word is frequently used in contexts where brevity and completeness are equally important, such as summaries, reports, and legal documents.