A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Abbreviatio Placitorum is a Latin term that means "summary of the pleas." It refers to an abstract of pleadings that were taken from the rolls of the Curia Regis, Parliament, and common-law courts from the 12th to 14th centuries. This compilation was made in the 17th century, printed in 1811, and attributed to Arthur Agarde, Deputy Chamberlain of the Exchequer, and other keepers of the records. It is similar to the Year Books.

Example: An example of Abbreviatio Placitorum is a summary of the legal arguments made in a court case. These summaries were compiled from the records of the court and were used to help lawyers and judges understand the legal issues involved in the case. They were also used to help lawyers prepare for future cases by providing them with examples of legal arguments that had been successful in the past.

Explanation: Abbreviatio Placitorum was a valuable resource for lawyers and judges in the past because it provided them with a summary of the legal arguments made in previous cases. This allowed them to better understand the legal issues involved in a case and to prepare for future cases by using successful legal arguments from the past. Today, Abbreviatio Placitorum is still studied by legal scholars as a historical record of the development of the common law.