noun
summa
noun
1
A large, comprehensive work that pulls together everything known on a subject, especially theology or philosophy.
"Aquinas's Summa Theologica remains the standard reference work of medieval Christian thought."
"The professor called his final book a summa of forty years studying Roman law."
2
The high point or perfect example of something.
"Critics called the film the summa of his directing career."
How to Use Summa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big, all-encompassing work of scholarship, or the ultimate example of something.
Common pairings
a summa of
summa theologica
Word Forms
summas plural, summae plural, Summas plural
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Aquinas's _____ Theologica remains the standard reference work of medieval Christian thought.
Etymology
From Latin summa, "the highest" or "total" — the same root behind sum and summit.