syncretism

American  

[sing-kri-tiz-uhm, sin-] / ˈsɪŋ krɪˌtɪz əm, ˈsɪn- /

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.

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syncretism British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• syncretic
  adjective
• syncretical
  adjective
• syncretist
  noun
• syncretistic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of syncretism

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” ( see syncretize) + -ismos noun suffix ( see -ism)

Explanation

Syncretism is a union or attempted fusion of different religions, cultures, or philosophies — like Halloween, which has both Christian and pagan roots, or the combination of Aristotelian philosophy with the belief system of the early punk rock practitioners. Syncretism may apply to something whose parts sync well, like salsa dance (a merging combination of African, Latin American, and European cultures), or something whose parts merge less successfully. Syncretism is also a word used for merging different inflection word forms, so that a word can serve more than one function. Examples in English are you, which can be an object or a subject, or pet, which is the same in the past and present tense.

Example Sentences

Syncretism has long been enmeshed in daily life and culture - though its limits are often put to the test.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2022

Syncretism.—Seeing that each of the different systems which we so far reviewed contains grains of truth, some theologians776 have adopted the good points of all four and combined them into a fifth, called Syncretism.

From Grace, Actual and Habitual A Dogmatic Treatise by Preuss, Arthur

Syncretism and mysticism were great forces at Eleusis, from which Ptolemy’s adviser Timotheus came.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel

Syncretism had been at work in Italy centuries before the days of Plutarch and Aristides.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel

Syncretism set in; the deities of the two races were reconciled and identified.

From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Dill, Samuel