summary

Pluralsummaries

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A condensed account that captures the main substance of a longer body of material.

   The report opens with a summary of the committee's findings.

   He skimmed the executive summaries before deciding which proposals to fund.

   Similarsynopsis, overview, outline, abstract, digest

2. 2
   adjective

   Brief and condensed, presenting information in a short form.

   The journal requires a summary statement at the top of each article.

   Her summary remarks captured the entire debate in just two sentences.

   Similarbrief, concise, short, condensed, succinct

   Oppositedetailed, lengthy, full

   Note

   Adjective and noun descend from two Medieval Latin words built on one root. The adjective comes from summārius, the noun from summārium, a noun of purpose, and both go back to summa, "total, sum." The adjective keeps that idea of reducing something to its total: a summary review, a summary statement. It sits beside summative and summarizing, and abstractive comes close, a reminder of the abstract, which is the noun's nearest neighbor.

3. 3
   adjective

   Carried out quickly, without formal ceremony, and especially without regard to legality.

   The regime was notorious for summary executions of political prisoners.

   Villagers meted out summary justice before the authorities could intervene.

   Similararbitrary, swift, immediate, instant

   Note

   The lawless side of the word, where speed is bought by skipping safeguards altogether. Its close neighbor is extrajudicial, and its signature phrase is summary executions, which almost always carries condemnation. Because the courtroom sense also cuts procedure short, but lawfully, the same phrase can fall on either side of the line. Context decides which one is meant: who acted, and under what authority.

4. 4
   adjective

   Carried out by omitting the procedures of a full trial, while staying within a legally valid framework.

   The court granted summary judgment after reviewing the motions.

   Minor offenses are handled through summary proceedings in the lower courts.

   Note

   In a courtroom the word is neutral, even routine. Summary dismissal of cases and summary judgment are ordinary steps of procedure, not accusations, and they name efficiency the rules themselves allow. Tone is the clearest guide. In legal writing the adjective describes a shortcut built into the system, while in everyday reporting the lawless sense usually signals that something has gone wrong.

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