précis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a concise summary of the essential facts or main points of a text, speech, or argument

   The hostess gave a rapid précis of each guest's career and reputation.

2. 2
   verb

   to summarize a text, speech, or argument concisely

   The editor asked her to précis the report in two paragraphs.

Borrowed from French précis, 'concise or exact,' from Latin praecisus, 'cut short,' the past participle of praecidere, formed from prae-, 'before,' + caedere, 'to cut.' The noun compares a summary to a text cut down to its essentials.

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