noun

1. a combination, reconciliation, or coalescence of varying, often mutually opposed beliefs, principles, or practices, esp. those of various religions, into a new conglomerate whole typically marked by internal inconsistencies
2. Linguis.
   1. the merging into one of two or more differently inflected forms
   2. the resulting identity between two or more inflected forms of a word (Ex.: past tense twisted in “She twisted the handle” and past participle twisted in “the twisted vine”)

Etymology: Fr syncrétisme < ModL syncretismus < Gr synkrētismos, union of two parties against a third, orig., a joining of Cretans < syn-, with, together + Krētes, pl. of Krēs, Cretan