recapitulate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   summarize briefly

   Let's recapitulate the main ideas

2. 2
   verb

   repeat an earlier theme of a composition

   The final paragraph will recapitulate the main argument.

3. 3
   verb

   repeat stages of evolutionary development during the embryonic phase of life

   The final paragraph will recapitulate the main argument.

From Late Latin recapitulātus, past participle of recapitulāre (“to go over the main points of a thing again”), from re- (“again”) + capitulum (“head, main part, chapter”), from caput (“head”) + -ulum (diminutive suffix); see capitulate. By surface analysis, re- + capitulate.

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