Pl. -ums, -a. [a. L. compendium that which is weighed together, a sparing, saving, abbreviation, f. compend-ĕre to weigh together, f. com- + pendĕre to weigh.]
† 1. A short cut; ‘the near way’ (J.).
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xlii. (1887), 258. [He] may perhaps wish for some way without Grammer, and couet a Compendium.
2. An abridgement or condensation of a larger work or treatise, giving the sense and substance, within smaller compass.
1589. Nashe, Pref. to Greene’s Arcadia (1616), 7. These men … doe pound their capacitie in barren Compendiums.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abridgm., 5. There were an incredible number of … Volumes of their Laws; whereupon that Prince … reduced them into a better Compendium.
1793. T. Beddoes, Math. Evid., 79. The writers of compendiums of mathematics and natural philosophy.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., Pref. 6. Many highly valuable compendia of Physical Geography are extant.
fig. 1607. Walkington, Opt. Glass, xv. (1664), 158. Others, having but the compendium of excellency, he alone had it in the greatest volumns.
b. An epitome, a summary, a brief.
1608. Middleton, Fam. Love, V. iii. You understand my case now? I do … here ’s the compendium.
1619. Drayton, Legends, Pref. By way of Briefe or Compendium.
1713. Guardian, No. 78. Indexes and dictionaries … are the compendium of all knowledge.
1853. Herschel, Pop. Lect. Sc., iv. § 30 (1873), 167. Admiral Fitzroy’s interesting compendium of the state of the barometer, &c.
c. transf. and fig. A condensed representation, an embodiment in miniature; an abstract.
1602. Return fr. Parnass., III. iv. (Arb.), 44. Old Sir Raderick, that new printed compendum of all iniquity.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 231. Great Brittaine, a Compendium of the World for varietie of Excellencies.
1766. Sterne, Serm., v. 112. A case … which may be looked upon as the compendium of all charity.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, I. vi. A compendium of extravagances and incongruities.
d. An abbreviation whereby two or more letters are expressed by a single character.
1833. G. S. Faber, Recapit. Apost., 88. In the construction of these compendia or … contractions, the compendium ς was framed out of the two distinct cursive letters ς and τ.
† 3. Sparing or saving; economy of labor, space, etc. Obs.
1638. Wilkins, New World, I. (1684), 29. Shewing a Compendium of Providence, that could make the same Body a World, and a Moon.
1651. Charleton, Ephes. & Cimm. Matrons, II. (1668), 71. Nor do we think that substraction a loss, but a Compendium.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 372. Double Consonants … for the Compendium of writing, are … expressed by single Characters.
a. 1734. North, Lives, I. 248. The judges, for compendium of travel, took the first town … capable of receiving them. Ibid., Exam., III. x. (1740), 660. These Methods are used for Compendium.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 32. The manner … is herein copied, on account of the compendium thereby suggested.
1812. Woodhouse, Astron., xviii. 199. The sole object of this … is compendium of calculation.
