Compendium

A '''compendium''' ({{plural form}} '''compendia''' or '''compendiums''') is a comprehensive collection of information and analysis pertaining to a body of knowledge. A compendium may concisely summarize a larger work. In most cases, the body of knowledge will concern a specific field of human interest or endeavor (e.g. hydrogeology, logology, ichthyology, phytosociology or myrmecology), while a general encyclopedia can be referred to as a "compendium of all human knowledge". The word ''compendium'' arrives from the Latin word ''compeneri'', meaning "to weigh together or balance". The 21st century has seen the rise of democratized, online compendia in various fields.

==Etymology==

The Latin prefix ''con-'' is used in compound words to suggest, "a being or bringing together of many objects" and also suggests striving for completeness with perfection. And ''compenso'' means "to balance, poise, weigh, offset."

==Definitions==

The entry on the word ''compendious'' in the ''Online Etymology Dictionary'' says "concise, abridged but comprehensive", "concise compilation comprising the general principles or leading points of a longer 'system or work{{'"}}. Its etymology comes from a Medieval Latin use (com + pendere), literally meaning to weigh together.<ref>{{Cite web |title=compendious {{!}} Origin and meaning of compendious |url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/compendious |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref>

==Examples==

[[File:Benedictus de Spinoza - Compendium grammatices linguae Hebraeae - page 40-41 - Hebrew grammar, 1677.jpg|thumb|Benedictus de Spinoza: ''Compendium Grammaticus Lingua Hebraeae,'' 1677, pages 40-41.]]thumb|''The Complete Compendium of Universal Knowledge'' (1895)

A field guide is a compendium of species found within a geographic area, or within a taxon of natural occurrence such as animals, plants, rocks and minerals, or stars. Bestiaries were medieval compendiums that catalogued animals and facts about natural history, and were particularly popular in England and France around the 12th century.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

A cookbook is a compendium of recipes within a given food culture.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

An example would be the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'', a concise 598-question-and-answer book which summarises the teachings of the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite book |title=Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-57455-720-6}}</ref>

Most nations have compendiums or compilations of law meant to be comprehensive for use by their judiciary. For example, the 613 commandments, or the United States Code.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

The collected works of Aristotle is a compendium of natural philosophy, metaphysics, language arts, and social science.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

The single volume ''Propædia'' is ''Encyclopædia Britannica'''s compendium of the many volumes of its ''Macropaedia''.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

The Bible is a group of many writings of the law, prophets, and writings of the Hebrew Bible held to be comprehensive and complete within Judaism and called the Old Testament by Christianity.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

Some well known literary figures have written their own compendium. An example would be Alexandre Dumas, author of ''The Three Musketeers'', and a gourmand. His compendium on food titled ''From Absinthe to Zest'' serves as an alphabet for food lovers.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

==References==

==External links== {{Wiktionary}} * [https://www.oed.com The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' site] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120703012726/http://www.usp-mc.org/ Medicines Compendium]

Category:Reference works