synopsis

Forms

synopsis f (genitive synopsis or synopseōs or synopsios); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σύνοψις (súnopsis, “general view, short list”).^[2][3][1] Köbler analyses the Greek word as σύν (sún, “together”) and ὄψεσθαι (ópsesthai, “to see”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The jurist Ulpian (before 223 AD)^[3] uses it in the Digest for an inventory of a ward's property, synopsin bonorum pupillarium.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In Latin it meant a general view or survey, and in particular an inventory or catalogue,^[2] such as the inventory of a temple in an inscription from Africa.^[5] The land surveyors' writings also have it, in the accusative synopsim.^[5] Ecclesiastical Latin used it for a list or a general view.^[6] Late Latin passed it to English in the 1610s, for a summary giving a general view.^[7]

Timeline

• before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it for an inventory of a ward's property.^[2][4][3]
• 1610s – Borrowed into English as synopsis.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. A general view, survey, synopsis.^[2][4][6]
2. An inventory, catalogue.^[2][5]

Related words

• English synopsis

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com