# summa

/ˈsumə/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/summa
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

a very important book or a collection of writings that covers a subject in great detail. It is often the most complete work on a specific topic.

For teachers: a comprehensive treatise or a collection of writings that provides a complete account of a subject. Often used in the plural to refer to the complete works of a philosopher or theologian.

## Examples

- The philosopher's Summa is still studied in universities today.
- Scholars spent years translating the Summa from Latin to make the author's complex ideas accessible to a modern audience.
- The theologian's Summa represents the pinnacle of medieval thought, synthesizing Aristotelian logic with Christian doctrine to create a systematic framework for understanding the divine.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.