World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesGist
/dʒɪst/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
The substance or general meaning of a speech, text, or conversation; what someone is fundamentally trying to convey.
"I missed the beginning of his lecture, but I caught the gist of what he was going on about." - 2
The essential ground or main point of a legal action or legal case.
"The gist of the complaint centered on breach of contract."
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the Old French phrase 'c'est gît' meaning 'that is where it lies', originating from the Latin 'iacere' meaning 'to lie'. Over time, the legal Anglo-French usage shifted to refer to the ground or point of an action, eventually evolving in modern English to mean the essential substance or general meaning of a speech, text, or topic.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Gist"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Gist" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
essentiel
Transliteration: ɛs.sɑ̃.sjɛl
Script: l'essentiel
"J'ai compris l'essentiel de son discours."
Kern
Transliteration: kɛʁn
Script: der Kern
"Ich habe den Kern seiner Aussage verstanden."
succo
Transliteration: ˈsuk.ko
Script: il succo del discorso
"Ho capito il succo di quello che stava dicendo."
medula
Transliteration: ˈme.ðu.la
Script: el meollo
"Capté el meollo de lo que estaba explicando."
essência
Transliteration: eˈsẽ.si.ɐ
Script: a essência
"Eu entendi a essência do que ele estava dizendo."
सार
Transliteration: saar
Script: हिंदी देवनागरी
"मैं उसकी बात का सार समझ गया।"
要点
Transliteration: yàodiǎn
Script: 中文汉字
"我抓住了他讲话的要点。"
요점
Transliteration: yo-jeom
Script: 한국어 한글
"나는 그가 하는 말의 요점을 파악했다."
要点
Transliteration: yōten
Script: 日本語
"彼の話の要点を掴むことができた。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsThe study of the spatial distribution of phenomena and the relationships between them across geographical areas.
An association of two or more individuals or organizations formed for a specific purpose, often for business or research.
A lawyer representing a party in a legal case that is in opposition to another party's lawyer.
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