recapitulates

Recapitulates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb recapitulate. To recapitulate means to summarize or restate the main points of something, typically in a concise form at the end of a discussion, chapter, or presentation. The term is used in academic, journalistic, and formal contexts to signal a brief restatement of key arguments or findings.

Etymology traces recapitulate to Late Latin recapitulat-, recapitulari, from recapitulum, meaning a recap or summary, which in turn derives from Latin caput, head. The figurative sense of going over the “head” again gave rise to the idea of going over the main points again in summary form.

Usage and nuance: in scholarly writing, a sentence such as The discussion recapitulates the study’s results is common, and the verb can also describe how a narrative or speech restates its core points. In musicology, recapitulation is a specific formal section of sonata form, where themes from the exposition return; while the noun recapitulation is standard in that field, the verb recapitulates can be used to describe the act of restating or reintroducing motifs, though this usage is less common than the noun form in musical analysis.

Related terms include recap, a more informal shorthand for a summary, and recapitulation, the noun form denoting the act or instance of recapitulating. In writing style, recapitulates should be used purposefully to consolidate information, avoiding overuse and ensuring clarity for readers seeking a concise summary.