summing (suming)

[Verbal n. of sum1, v.] The act of one who sums, in any sense of the verb sum; specifically, the act or proce of working out an arithmetical problem. Mr. Tulliver observed, indeed, that there were no maps, and not enough summing.... It was a puzzling busine , this schooling. George Eliot, Mill on the Flo , ii. 7. Summing up. (a) A summary; a recapitulation; a compendious restatement. Not a history, but exaggerative pictures of the Revolution, is Mazzini's summing - up . The Century , XXXI. 406. (b) In law : (1) The addre of the judge to the jury on a trial, after the close of the evidence and generally after arguments of counsel, usually recapitulating the e ential points of the case and the evidence, and instructing them on the law. This is the English usage of the phrase, and corresponds to the charge or the American use of the word instructions. (2) The argument of counsel at the close of evidence on a trial either before a jury or before a judge or referee. This is the American usage of the phrase. summist (sum'ist), n . [= Sp. sumista , summist a , summa , sum: see sum1 and -ist .] One who forms an abridgment or summary; specifically, a medieval writer of a compendium (Latin summa ), especially of theology, as St. Thomas A quinas. A book entitled "The Tax of the Apostolical Chamber or Chancery," whereby may be learned more sorts of wickedne than from all the summists and the summaries of all vices. Bp . Bull , Corruptions of Ch. of Rome. Hugo [of St. Victor (1097-1141)], by the composition of his Summa Sententia rum, endeavoured to give a methodical or rational presentation of the content of faith, and was thus the first of the so-called Summists . Encyc. Brit., XXI. 425.