- Today's Word
Recapitulate
[ree-kuh-PITCH-uh-layt]
Definition
- (verb) To summarize and state again the main points of something; to give a brief summary. As a verb, it means to restate or provide a concise review of what has been said, written, or learned previously.
Example
At the end of the lecture, the professor took a few minutes to recapitulate the key concepts covered during class.
Fun Fact
The word “recapitulate” comes from the Latin “recapitulare,” which breaks down into “re” (again) and “capitulum” (heading or chapter), literally meaning “to go over the headings again.” In biology, the term took on a fascinating secondary meaning through Ernst Haeckel’s 1866 theory of recapitulation, which suggested that an organism’s embryonic development repeats its evolutionary history. Though this theory was later disproven, the term “recapitulation” remains an important concept in developmental biology and has influenced fields ranging from psychology to music theory.
(verb) To reduce the intensity of fear, pain, or suspicion; to calm or relieve without fully eliminating.
The doctor’s calm, unhurried explanation did more to allay her anxiety than any test result could have — sometimes certainty matters less than tone.