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syncretism Definition

syn·cre·tism (siŋ′krə tiz′əm, sin′-)

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

syncretism Related Forms
syn·cret′ic (sin kret′ik) adjective or syn·cre·tis·ticsiŋ′krə tis′tik, sin′- syn′·cre·tist noun, adjective
syncretism Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • show: Al-Azmeh also shows the syncretism of the process, seen in the incorporation of " the political sagacity of the Persians.
  • call: This practice, called syncretism, resulted in the Yoruba derived religion Santeria that is practiced today.

Adjective modifier

  • religious: The interpretation of their significance could be an example of religious syncretism.
  • diachronic: It is argued that phonological or phonetic similarity of forms favors diachronic syncretism in certain morphological contexts.
  • cultural: You examine recent theoretical debates on globalization, cultural syncretism and hybridity.
  • paradigmatic: Matras 1997 ] ; differing patterns of paradigmatic syncretism; inherited and developed suppletion in personal pronouns; etc.
  • doctrinal: However, that Independence should not be confused with pandering to doctrinal syncretism or liturgical modernism.

Modifies a noun

  • result: Syncretism results from filters which block certain feature combinations at the level of syntax; in its place an adjusted feature bundle is formed.

Noun used with modifier

  • case: Case syncretism in Pennsylvania German: internal or external forces at play?