syncretism

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪŋkɹəˌtɪzm̩/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from New Latin syncretismus,^[2][3][4][5] perhaps through French syncrétisme,^[2][3] from Ancient Greek συγκρητισμός (sunkrētismós, “union of communities”),^{[6][2][3][4][5]} from sunkrētízein “to combine against a common enemy”.^[6][2][3][5] This is traditionally explained as “to unite like the Cretans”, from Ancient Greek Κρής (Krḗs, “Cretan”),^[6][4][5] though Etymonline also mentions a link with kerannúnai “to mix”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

An attempted union or reconciliation of different or opposing beliefs, especially in philosophy or religion (1618).^[2][3][4][7]

Semantic evolution

The New Latin word was coined among German Protestant theologians who tried to harmonize their sects,^[3] and in English it has often been pejorative, suggesting an attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable.^[3] In linguistics it has meant the merging of different inflectional forms since 1909,^[2][7] and in psychology the fusing of diverse ideas into a general impression since 1926.^[7]

Timeline

• 1615 – New Latin syncretismus.^[2]
• 1618 – syncretism.^[2][4][7]
• 1675 – syncretize.^[2]
• 1909 – in grammar, the merging of inflectional forms.^[2][7]
• 1926 – in psychology.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The fusion or reconciliation of different systems of belief or practice, as in philosophy or religion.
2. In grammar, the merging of two or more originally different inflectional forms.

Word family

• syncretic
• syncretist
• syncretistic

Related words

• syncretize
• eclectic
• syn-

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press