Recapitulation
Word of the Day
What is Recapitulation?
noun
An act or instance of summarizing and restating the main points; (music) the return of earlier themes.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to highlight the craft of ending well — in papers, presentations, and symphonies.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The presentation closed with a crisp recapitulation.
In the recapitulation, the theme returns in the tonic.
The report’s recapitulation section aided skimmers.
Word Origins
Latin recapitulatio “summing up”
Specialized senses in rhetoric, music theory, and biology (now dated).
First appearance in English: late 15th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Verb:
She recapitulated the key findings.
-
Noun:
The summary captured the essentials.
-
Noun:
The coda felt like a recapitulation.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: recapitulación
- French: récapitulation
- German: Rekapitulation
- Italian: ricapitolazione
- Portuguese: recapitulação
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Synopsis
Short outline; recapitulation suggests returning sequence.
Coda
End section in music; recapitulation specifically restates themes.
Digest
Condensed compilation; recapitulation is a rhetorical move.
Fun Facts
- Biology once proposed a “recapitulation theory”: ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.
- Slide decks often title the last slide “Recap,” a clipped form.
Cultural Usage
- Beethoven’s sonata forms hinge on dramatic recapitulations.
- Classical orators used recapitulation to fix points in memory.
Common Mistakes
Not “reputation” — different word entirely.
Micro Story
Her recapitulation clarified the argument and sealed the grade.