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View synonyms for summary

summary

[ suhm-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural sum·ma·ries.
  1. a comprehensive and usually brief abstract, recapitulation, or compendium of previously stated facts or statements.

    Synonyms: précis, outline



adjective

  1. brief and comprehensive; concise.

    Synonyms: succinct, compact, condensed, short

  2. direct and prompt; unceremoniously fast:

    to treat someone with summary dispatch.

    Synonyms: brusque, terse, curt

  3. (of legal proceedings, jurisdiction, etc.) conducted without, or exempt from, the various steps and delays of a formal trial.

summary

/ ˈsʌmərɪ /

noun

  1. a brief account giving the main points of something


adjective

  1. performed arbitrarily and quickly, without formality

    a summary execution

  2. (of legal proceedings) short and free from the complexities and delays of a full trial
  3. summary jurisdiction
    summary jurisdiction the right a court has to adjudicate immediately upon some matter arising during its proceedings
  4. giving the gist or essence

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Derived Forms

  • ˈsummariness, noun
  • ˈsummarily, adverb

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Other Words From

  • sum·mar·i·ness [s, uh, -, mair, -i-nis], noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of summary1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin summārium, equivalent to summ(a) “sum” + -ārium noun suffix; sum, -ary

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Word History and Origins

Origin of summary1

C15: from Latin summārium, from summa sum 1

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Synonym Study

Summary, brief, digest, synopsis are terms for a short version of a longer work. A summary is a brief statement or restatement of main points, especially as a conclusion to a work: a summary of a chapter. A brief is a detailed outline, by heads and subheads, of a discourse (usually legal) to be completed: a brief for an argument. A digest is an abridgment of an article, book, etc., or an organized arrangement of material under heads and titles: a digest of a popular novel; a digest of Roman law. A synopsis is usually a compressed statement of the plot of a novel, play, etc.: a synopsis of Hamlet.

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Example Sentences

That distinction is as pat a summary of the moment as you’ll find.

Hoffman said that the public can still access portions of a petitioner’s court file, including summaries of expert opinions about why the person is safe be released.

Once you’ve made your choices, click Next and then Reset on the summary screens.

Keep in mind that any particular score is a summary of other metrics you should look to find activity preceding or lining up with a failing score milestone in order to figure out what might be causing the problem.

He began his affiliation with McWilliams Ballard in 2000, according to a career summary of Rieschick’s tenure with the real estate company published on its website.

He and other Taliban sources claim that in Karachi as many as 50 to 60 Taliban are given summary executions each month.

But the lawyer deleted that line from the final version of the summary.

You should look at our summary of benefits,” she continued, directing me to a handy online chart of “coverage examples.

Instead, the Lift monitors posture all day long and gives a daily summary of performance.

We see them for a few minutes, then pen a quick summary and leave directions for the nurses to follow.

This appears to me a very convenient and sufficient summary of all I am to tell.

The following table contains a summary of the composition of ten different animals in different stages of fattening.

Malcolm gave Saumarez a summary of affairs in the Northwest Provinces as they rode on ahead of the troop.

She felt that her summary was precipitate, and drawing herself up defiantly looked hard at Mrs. Leslie.

Accordingly, in the next seven stanzas, we have a fair summary of the general contents of the Somnium Scipionis.

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