gist

Meanings

Noun

• The most essential part; the main idea or substance (of a longer or more complicated matter); the crux of a matter; the pith.
• The essential ground for action in a suit, without which there is no cause of action.
• Resting place (especially of animals), lodging.

Verb

• To summarize, to extract and present the most important parts of.

Related

Similar words

• gravamen
• lair

Origin

• From Old French gist, from the verb gesir, from Latin iaceō. Compare French gésir or gîte.