chrestomathy

n., pl., -thies.

1. A selection of literary passages, usually by one author.
2. An anthology used in studying a language.

[Greek khrēstomatheia : khrēstos, useful (from khrēsthai, to use) + -matheia, body of learning (from manthanein, math-, to learn).]

chrestomathic chres'to·math'ic (krĕs'tə-măth'ĭk) adj.

(kres-TOM-uh-thee)

noun
1. A volume of selected literary passages, usually by one author.
2. A selection of literary passages from a foreign language, especially one assembled for studying a language.

Etymology
From Greek chrestomatheia, from chrestos (useful) + manthanein (to learn) These two parts of the word ultimately derive from Indo-European gher- (to like or want) which gave us yearn, charisma, greedy, exhort; and mendh- (to learn) that resulted in the terms mathematics and polymath

An example: A Mencken Chrestomathy: amazon.com/o/asin/0394752090/ws00-20.

Usage
"'Emerson In His Journals' is more than a mere chrestomathy from the diaries, journals and notebooks. It is indeed a superbly edited volume." — Robert Taylor; Book Making; Boston Globe; May 16, 1982.

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chrestomathy [kres‐tom‐ă‐thi], a collection or anthology of passages in prose or verse, often selected for purposes of literary or linguistic study.

a volume of selected passages or stories of an author