synthetic

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /sɪnˈθet.ɪk/, US /sɪnˈθet̬.ɪk/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French synthétique and directly New Latin syntheticus,^[2][3] from Ancient Greek συνθετικός (sunthetikós, “skilled in putting together, constructive”),^[2][4][3] from the past participle stem of συντίθημι (suntíthēmi, “to put together”) (see synthesis).^[2][4][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to grammatical construction, a rare and obsolete sense: 1589.^[5] In logic, proceeding from causes or principles to their consequences: 1697 in the OED, the 1690s in Etymonline.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

In chemistry, relating to synthesis, it is from 1753.^[5] It was used in grammar by 1816, of languages that combine elements into words, and in biology by 1859.^[2] Of a substance made by chemical synthesis in imitation of a natural product, it is from 1874,^[5][2] and figuratively, artificial or invented, from 1930.^[5][2] In aeronautics, synthetic training simulates flight on the ground (1942).^[5] As a noun, a synthetic material, especially a fabric, it is from 1934 in Etymonline, 1916 in Merriam-Webster.^[2][4] Synthetical is from the 1620s, in logic.^[2]

Timeline

• 1589 – of grammatical construction.^[5]
• 1697 – deductive (logic).^[5]
• 1753 – relating to chemical synthesis.^[5]
• 1874 – artificially made.^[5][2]
• 1916 – a synthetic (noun).^[4]
• 1930 – artificial, imitation.^[5][2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Made artificially by chemical reaction, not of natural origin.
2. Not genuine; artificial or insincere: synthetic compassion.
3. Relating to or involving synthesis.
4. (linguistics) Of a language such as Latin, expressing grammatical relations mainly by inflection.

Noun

1. A synthetic chemical compound or material, especially a fabric.

Word family

• synthetically
• nonsynthetic
• unsynthetic
• biosynthetic
• polysynthetic
• semisynthetic

Related words

• synthesis
• synthesize
• thesis
• analytic

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press