Dictionary

compendious

adjective com·pen·di·ous \kəm-ˈpen-dē-əs\

Definition of COMPENDIOUS

:  marked by brief expression of a comprehensive matter :  concise and comprehensive <a compendious summary>; also :  comprehensive <her compendious knowledge of the subject>
com·pen·di·ous·ly adverb
com·pen·di·ous·ness noun
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First Known Use of COMPENDIOUS

14th century

Synonym Discussion of COMPENDIOUS

concise, terse, succinct, laconic, summary, pithy, compendious mean very brief in statement or expression. concise suggests the removal of all that is superfluous or elaborative <a concise description>. terse implies pointed conciseness <a terse reply>. succinct implies the greatest possible compression <a succinct letter of resignation>. laconic implies brevity to the point of seeming rude, indifferent, or mysterious <an aloof and laconic stranger>. summary suggests the statement of main points with no elaboration or explanation <a summary listing of the year's main events>. pithy adds to succinct or terse the implication of richness of meaning or substance <a comedy sharpened by pithy one-liners>. compendious applies to what is at once full in scope and brief and concise in treatment <a compendious dictionary>.

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