In the world of books, a compendium is a collection of shorter works. An omnibus, on the other hand, is a collection of longer works.
The definition of compendium and omnibus
A compendium is a collection of things that have been compiled together, usually for reference or convenience. An omnibus is a single volume containing several works. In general, a compendium is shorter and more concise than an omnibus, and an omnibus is more comprehensive than a compendium.
Compendium Vs. Omnibus – Key differences
A compendium is a collection of information about a particular subject, while an omnibus is a collection of information on multiple subjects. The main difference between the two is that a compendium is focused on one specific topic, while an omnibus can be about anything.
Compendiums are often used as reference material, while omnibus books are generally more for entertainment or educational purposes. For example, a compendium on birds might include information on their habitat, diet and behaviour, while an omnibus book on birds might tell stories about different species of birds.
The origin of the word compendium
The word comes from the Latin com- “together” and ponere “to put”.
The first known use of the word compendium was in the 14th century. It was used to refer to a summary or an abstract. By the mid-16th century, it came to be used specifically for a book that contained a collection of shorter works or excerpts.
Today, the word compendium is used more broadly to refer to any collection of things, whether it be in physical or digital form. For example, you might refer to a website as being a compendium of information on a certain topic.
The origin of the word omnibus
The word omnibus is derived from the Latin word for “all”. The original meaning of the word was “for all”, but it eventually came to mean “for everyone”. The word first appeared in English in the early 19th century.
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