noun
summa
Summa (noun) means a large, comprehensive work that pulls together everything known on a subject, especially theology or philosophy. Example: “Aquinas's Summa Theologica remains the standard reference work of medieval Christian thought.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- summas, summae
Fill the gap
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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.
Rhymes for summa
See all rhymes for summa →Frequently asked questions
What does “summa” mean?
The word “summa” means a large, comprehensive work that pulls together everything known on a subject, especially theology or philosophy. In plain terms, a big, all-encompassing work of scholarship, or the ultimate example of something.
How do you use “summa” in a sentence?
Here is “summa” used in a sentence: “Aquinas's Summa Theologica remains the standard reference work of medieval Christian thought.”
What part of speech is “summa”?
“Summa” is a noun.
Where does the word “summa” come from?
The word “summa” comes from Latin. From Latin summa, "the highest" or "total" — the same root behind sum and summit.
How many meanings does “summa” have?
“Summa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, comprehensive work that pulls together everything known on a subject, especially theology or philosophy.
