plural summae
ˈsu̇-ˌmī 
ˈsü-,
-ˌmā;
ˈsə-ˌmē,
-ˌmī
1
: a comprehensive treatise
especially
: one by a scholastic philosopher
2
: a synthesis or summary of any subject
Synonyms
Examples of summa in a Sentence
the director's book is basically a summa of his views on the nature of the theatrical experience
Recent Examples on the Web
The stage was set for the Fourth, whose five movements add up to a summa of Bartók’s art, by turns tenaciously labored, sinuously swirling, nocturnally eerie, pizzicato-punchy, and flat-out wild.
—
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Alas, Dostoevsky — all of whose major characters clearly embody aspects of his own extremist personality — died in 1881, shortly after completing this summa of his most deeply felt themes and obsessions.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023
The Conservative Sensibility is a kind of summa, a Ce que je crois.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 June 2023
The effort to enact these kinds of laws can be seen as the sum and summa of how Republican’s view democracy, which essentially holds that Democratic party electoral victories are inherently illegitimate.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 22 June 2021
The Inevitability of Tragedy, Gewen’s first book, is a manifesto or summa of his efforts to convert Kissinger’s critics and would-be prosecutors into his students.
—Jim Sleeper, The New Republic, 13 Aug. 2020
Baldwin Wallace's newest employee is Jeannie Vassanelli, catering and events manager and a 1998 BW summa cum laude graduate.
—Plain Dealer Business Staff, cleveland.com, 18 June 2017
This year, Prinicipal Jessie Marion addressed the crowd along with student speakers Callie Brennan and Catthi Ly, summa cum laude.
—Greg Mellen, Orange County Register, 15 June 2017
Pena-Sultanay graduated summa cum laude from MCC's Honors College at the 53rd Commencement Exercises on May 27.
—Courant Community, 27 June 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Alas, Dostoevsky — all of whose major characters clearly embody aspects of his own extremist personality — died in 1881, shortly after completing this summa of his most deeply felt themes and obsessions.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023
The Conservative Sensibility is a kind of summa, a Ce que je crois.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 June 2023
The effort to enact these kinds of laws can be seen as the sum and summa of how Republican’s view democracy, which essentially holds that Democratic party electoral victories are inherently illegitimate.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 22 June 2021
The Inevitability of Tragedy, Gewen’s first book, is a manifesto or summa of his efforts to convert Kissinger’s critics and would-be prosecutors into his students.
—Jim Sleeper, The New Republic, 13 Aug. 2020
Baldwin Wallace's newest employee is Jeannie Vassanelli, catering and events manager and a 1998 BW summa cum laude graduate.
—Plain Dealer Business Staff, cleveland.com, 18 June 2017
This year, Prinicipal Jessie Marion addressed the crowd along with student speakers Callie Brennan and Catthi Ly, summa cum laude.
—Greg Mellen, Orange County Register, 15 June 2017
Pena-Sultanay graduated summa cum laude from MCC's Honors College at the 53rd Commencement Exercises on May 27.
—Courant Community, 27 June 2017
Dictionary Entries Near summa
Cite this Entry
“Summa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summa. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share