précis

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A summary or brief

   A summary or brief: a concise or abridged statement or view.

   • I know she goes in for giving a rapid precis of all her guests.
   • the computer is functioning, lights on it softly blinking as it produces on the screen beside it a series of graphs — ten years' worth of annual reports, a précis of Data General Corporation's financial history.
   • I was sometimes mildly reprimanded during English lessons at school for making my précis too short[...]
2. 2

   to write a précis of a work

   to write a précis of a work; to summarise, abridge

   • If the inital ^([sic]) passage consists of a series of paragraphs, each with a one-sentence summary, the individual's success in managing to précis the essential content of the message can then be assessed
   • Nevertheless, to be required to précis say 5000 words on a single sheet of A4 has the advantage of simplicity, even if it isn’t easy.

The neighborhood