compendious

Compendious, a.

Etymology: [L. compendiosus.]

Containing the substance oe general principles of a subject or work in a narrow compass; abridged; summarized. More compendious and exeditious ways. Woodward. Three things be required in the oration of a man having authority -- that it be compendious, sententious, and delectable. Sir T. Elyot.

Syn. -- Short; summary; abridged; condensed; comprehensive; succinct; brief; concise.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for compendious; he lists it under terse.

Where he writes about it:

That which is compendious (L. com-, together, and pendo, weigh) gathers the substance of a matter into a few words, weighty and effective. — from terse

Synonyms

terse brief compact concise condensed laconic neat pithy sententious short succinct

Antonyms

diffuse lengthy long prolix tedious verbose wordy

etymology Webster’s online