Precis
/ˈpreɪ.si/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A concise summary of a text or speech.
The student wrote a precis of the long article to highlight the main arguments.
An abstract or summary of a written work.
The journal required a precis of each paper submitted for review.
A brief summary that retains the essential points of the original material.
After reading the book, she created a precis that captured the key themes and characters.
A condensed version of a larger document.
The business analyst prepared a precis of the report to share with senior management.
A short and effective summary, often used in academic and professional contexts.
His precis was so well written that it encouraged many to read the full dissertation.
Etymology
French, from 'précis' meaning 'precise'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
to write a precis
to create a concise summary of something.
precis of a speech
a brief account of what was said in a speech.
precis writing
the act or process of summarizing a text.
Related Words
summary
a brief statement of the main points of something.
abstract
a summary of the contents of a book, article, or speech.
outline
a general description or plan showing the essential features of something.
Slang Meanings
a quick recap
Give me the precis of that movie plot in a couple of sentences.
the gist
What’s the precis of what he said? I missed the details.