syncretism

(siŋkrə 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”)

Origin: 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

Related Forms:

See syncretism in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief, as in philosophy or religion, especially when success is partial or the result is heterogeneous.
  2. Linguistics The merging of two or more originally different inflectional forms.

Origin:

Origin: Greek sunkrētismos, union

Origin: , from sunkrētizein, to unite (in the manner of the Cretan cities)

Origin: : sun-, syn-

Origin: + Krēs, Krēt-, Cretan

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Related Forms:

  • syn·cretˈic (-krĕtˈĭk), synˌcre·tisˈtic (-krĭ-tĭsˈtĭk) adjective
  • synˈcre·tist noun

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