syncretism

syncretism
syncretic /sin kret"ik/, syncretical, syncretistic /sing'kri tis"tik, sin'-/, adj.syncretist, n.
/sing"kri tiz'euhm, sin"-/, n.
1. the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.
2. Gram. the merging, as by historical change in a language, of two or more categories in a specified environment into one, as, in nonstandard English, the use of was with both singular and plural subjects, while in standard English was is used with singular subjects (except for you in the second person singular) and were with plural subjects.
[1610-20; < NL syncretismus < Gk synkretismós union of Cretans, i.e., a united front of two opposing parties against a common foe, deriv. of synkret(ízein) to SYNCRETIZE + -ismos -ISM]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Syncretism — • An explanation is given by Plutarch in a small work on brotherly love ( Opera Moralia , ed. Reiske, VII, 910). He there tells how the Cretans were often engaged in quarrels among themselves, but became immediately reconciled when an external… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Syncretism — Syn cre*tism, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to make two parties join against a third: cf. F. syncr[ e]tisme.] 1. Attempted union of principles or parties irreconcilably at variance with each other. [1913 Webster] He is plotting a carnal syncretism, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • syncretism — (n.) reconciliation of different beliefs, 1610s, from Mod.L. syncretismus (David Pareus, 1615), from Gk. synkretismos union of communities, from synkretizein to combine against a common enemy, from syn + second element of uncertain origin. One… …   Etymology dictionary

  • syncretism — ► NOUN ▪ the amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. DERIVATIVES syncretic adjective syncretist noun & adjective syncretistic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek sunkr tizein unite against a third party , from kr s Cretan… …   English terms dictionary

  • syncretism — [siŋ′krə tiz΄əm, sin′krə tiz′əm] n. [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] 1. a combination,… …   English World dictionary

  • Syncretism — For the linguistic term, see syncretism (linguistics). Syncretism (English pronunciation: /ˈsɪŋkrətɪzəm/) is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means combining , but see below …   Wikipedia

  • syncretism — A combination of two religions, as in Israel when the worship of Yahweh, who had led them through the wilderness, became infiltrated, according to the biblical narratives, with beliefs and practices of the Canaanites, who worshipped the gods El… …   Dictionary of the Bible

  • syncretism — In a religious context, syncretism refers to the worship of one god using the form or tradition of another god. Thus, for example, the Hebrew prophets constantly condemned the tendency to revert to worshipping Yahweh using forms associated with… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • syncretism —    This word (from the Greek synkrētismos, meaning union of communities ) refers to the mixing or combining ofbeliefs and practices from different religious systems; some regard such mixture as inherently contradictory, while others consider… …   Glossary of theological terms

  • Syncretism (linguistics) — In linguistics, syncretism is the identity of form of distinct morphological forms of a word.For example, in English, the nominative and accusative forms of you and it are the same, whereas he / him , she / her , etc., have different forms… …   Wikipedia

  • syncretism — noun Etymology: New Latin syncretismus, from Greek synkrētismos federation of Cretan cities, from syn + Krēt , Krēs Cretan Date: 1618 1. the combination of different forms of belief or practice 2. the fusion of two or more originally different… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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