Recapitulated: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'recapitulare', which means 'to go over the main heads again'.
• Its roots 'capitulum' means 'little head', suggesting a summary of important points.
• 'Recap' is a familiar and informal abbreviation of 'recapitulated'.

Science

• In biology, recapitulation refers to the theory that an organism's development (ontogeny) follows the same progression as its evolutionary history (phylogeny).
• This led to the phrase 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny', though it has been largely discredited in modern biology.
• Some scientists use recapitulated structures to study genetic patterns of evolution.

Literature

• In storytelling, to recapitulate is often used towards the end of a narrative to summarize key events or themes.
• Many authors utilize recapitulation in their works to reinforce important messages or character lessons.
• In essays and articles, a recapitulation helps readers remember the main arguments made throughout the text.

Psychology

• Recapitulation can be an important tool in education for reinforcing learning by summarizing information.
• It allows individuals to solidify their understanding and make connections to what they’ve learned previously.
• Teachers often encourage students to recapitulate what they’ve learned to aid memory retention.

Pop Culture

• In movie discussions, it's common to recapitulate the plot before diving into deeper analysis.
• Many TV shows recap previous episodes to help audiences remember key events and characters' backstories.
• Recaps on social media platforms allow fans to share thoughts and insights about upcoming storylines.

At rank #29,314, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

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