Advertisement

Advertisement

syncretism

[ sing-kri-tiz-uhm, sin- ]

noun

  1. the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.
  2. Grammar. the merging, as by historical change in a language, of two or more categories in a specified environment into one, as, in nonstandard English, the use of was with both singular and plural subjects, while in standard English was is used with singular subjects (except for you in the second person singular) and were with plural subjects.


syncretism

/ sɪŋˈkrɛtɪk; ˈsɪŋkrɪˌtɪzəm /

noun

  1. the tendency to syncretize
  2. the historical tendency of languages to reduce their use of inflection, as in the development of Old English with all its case endings into Modern English
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • syncretic, adjective
  • ˈsyncretist, noun
Discover More

Other Words From

  • syn·cret·ic [sin-, kret, -ik], syn·cret·i·cal syn·cre·tis·tic [sing-kri-, tis, -tik, sin-], adjective
  • syn·cre·tist noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of syncretism1

First recorded in 1610–20; from New Latin syncretismus, from Greek synkrētismós “union of Cretans,” i.e., a united front of two opposing parties against a common foe, derivative of synkrēt(ízein) “to form a confederation” ( syncretize ) + -ismos noun suffix ( -ism )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of syncretism1

C17: from New Latin syncrētismus, from Greek sunkrētismos alliance of Cretans, from sunkrētizein to join forces (in the manner of the Cretan towns), from syn- + Krēs a Cretan
Discover More

Example Sentences

Quite fascinatingly, over time, Anubis continued to be worshipped through a unique scope of cultural syncretism.

His mysticism and syncretism were things that precisely Christianity cannot reproach him with.

And it is here especially that we notice the syncretism which is peculiar to him.

There appears to be a very early example of syncretism in p. 49Australia.

Pupils under 16 were assigned the topic Syncretism in the later pagan movement.

Those which now pass for Christian in western Europe are the result of the syncretism of two thousand years.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


syncreticsyncretize