The word of the day is "compendious," an adjective describing something that provides a lot of needed information. This can apply to books, research papers, or articles that are very thorough. A person can also have compendious knowledge, meaning they have a deep and broad understanding of a subject. Sometimes, "compendious" can describe something that is both comprehensive and brief, like a concise summary. An example is awarding a book prize to a thorough history of environmental literature. In his first dictionary, Noah Webster used "compendious" to mean short and concise. This usage contrasts with the modern common meaning of "comprehensive," often applied to lengthy works. The word's Latin root signifies both comprehensiveness and succinctness. Today, "compendious" primarily emphasizes being all-encompassing. However, the original sense of brevity can still be found in its etymology.