noun
epitome
A brief summary of a larger work or subject.
The editor provides an epitome of the book's main arguments.
Etymology
The Greek noun expresses cutting short. An epitome reduces a larger work to its essential matter, preserving a concise account in place of the full treatment.
More examples
- Students read a short epitome instead of the complete history.
- Her ten-page epitome covers the essentials of ancient philosophy.
- These epitomes preserve the main ideas of several lost works.
Forms
epitome · epitomes