syncope 
in the other; simple figuration. 5. In (inc. 
lima., omission, or apparent omission, of an 
arsis in the inferior of a line. This omission is 
usually only apparent, the long of the thesis being pro- 
tracted to make up the time of the syllable or syllables 
which seem to be wanting : as, -2_ for _?_ A (a trisemic 
long), 4 for JL i i (a tetrasemic long). This applica- 
tion of the term is modem. 
In the little metric at the end of my Greek grammar I 
have adopted it [the recognition of deficient times] from 
them, with the name of tyncape, which they had given it. 
J. Hartley, Essays, p. 109. 
Cat-syncope, fainting produced in peculiarly susceptible 
persons by the proximity of a cat : similar to asthmatic 
attacks likewise produced, called cat-asthma. 
syncopic (sin-kop'ik). n. [< syncope + -.] 
Pertaining to or of the nature of syncope. 
The local syncopic and asphyxial stages were usually 
well defined. Lancet, 1889, I. 841. 
syncopist (sing'ko-pist), w. (X syncope + -ist.] 
One who contracts words by syncope. Imp. 
Diet. 
syncopize (sing'ko-plz), . t. ; pret. and pp. syn- 
copized, ppr. syncopizing. [< syncope + -fee.] 
To contract by the omission of a letter or syl- 
lable; syncopate. 
syncoptic (sin-kop'tik), a. [< Gr. evynom-uiof, 
pertaining to syncope, < ovyn6rrTetv, cut short : 
see syncope.'] In mccl., pertaining to or of the 
nature of syncope. 
These two kinds of respiration, the pneumatorectic and 
the syncoptic, were perfectly regular and typical ; the for- 
mer showed itself immediately after a heavy discharge of 
blood, the latter before death. Nature, XXXIV. 23. 
syncotyledonous (sin-kpt-i-le'don-us), a. [< 
Gr. em, together, + Korv'Ar/duv, any cup-shaped 
hollow: see cotyledonous.] In bot., having the 
cotyledons united as if soldered together. 
syncranterian (sing-kran-te'ri-an), a. [< Gr. 
aim, together, + Kpavrijpec, the wisdom-teeth, < 
upaivuv, accomplish, fulfil.] Having teeth in 
an uninterrupted row: noting the dentition of 
those serpents whose posterior teeth are con- 
tinuous with the anterior: opposed to diacran- 
teriaii. 
syncretic (sin-kret'ik), a. and M. [< syncret-ism 
+ -ic.] I. a. Of or pertaining to syncretism ; 
characterized by syncretism; uniting, or at- 
tempting to unite, different systems, as of phi- 
losophy or religion. See syncretism. A. Wilder. 
II. . A syncretist. Imp. Diet. 
syncretise, v. t. See syncretize. 
syncretism (sing'kre-tism), n. [= F. syncre- 
tteme = Sp. sincretismo, < Gr. ovyKprirtafiAf, < otj- 
icpirritn>, combine against: see syncretize!} The 
attempted reconciliation or union of irrecon- 
cilable principles or parties, as in philosophy 
or religion ; specifically, the doctrines of a cer- 
tain school in the Lutheran Church, followers 
of Calixtus, who attempted to effect a union 
among all Christians, Protestant and Catholic. 
See syneretiitt. This word first passed into common 
use at the Reformation, and was then used indifferently, 
in both a good and a bad sense, to designate the attempted 
union of different sects on the basis of tenets common to 
all. It soon lost all but its contemptuous meaning, and 
became specifically restricted to the system of a school 
of thinkers within the Lutheran Church. 
He is plotting a carnal syncretism, and attempting the 
reconcilement of Christ and Belial. Baxter. (Imp. Diet.) 
A tendency to syncretism to a mingling of heteroge- 
neous religions was a notable characteristic of the age 
contemporaneous with the introduction of Christianity. 
0. P. Fisher, Beginnings of Christianity, p. 72. 
syncretist (sing'kre-tist), . [< syncret-ism 
+ -ist.] One who 'attempts to blend incon- 
gruous tenets, or doctrines of different schools 
or churches, into a system. 
May not an ancient book be supposed to be the produc- 
tion of a series of imitators, editors, and syncretitts, none 
of whom is exactly a deliberate forger? 
Westminster Ree., CXXV. 229. 
.Specifically -(a) A follower of Calixtus (1586-1666), a Lu- 
theran divine, and professor of theology at Helmstedt, 
who endeavored to frame a religious system which should 
unite the different Christian denominations, Protestant 
and Catholic, (ft) One of a school, in the sixteenth cen- 
tury, which attempted to mediate between the Platonic 
and Aristotelian philosophies. Also used attributively 
as, a syncretist religious system. 
syncretistic (sing-kre-tis'tik), a. [< syncretist 
+ -ic.] 1. Of, pertaining to, or characterized 
by syncretism. 
Many things led to a syncretistic stage of worship 
Trans. Amer. PMlol. Asi., XVII., App., p. ix. 
2. Pertaining to the syncretists : as, the syn- 
cretistic controversy (a bitter controversy in 
the Lutheran Church, in the seventeenth cen- 
tury, re_garding the tenets of the syncretists). 
syncretize (sing'kre-tlz), v. ; pret. and pp. syn- 
cretized, ppr. syncretizing. [< Gr. avyK.prrri&iv, 
combine against a common enemy, < am, toge- 
ther, + **fwlfea> (uncertain). Cf. syncretism.} 
G1U4 
To effect or attempt syncretism ; blend; unite: 
as, to sit>icrcti:p religious systems. Also spelled 
sync.retise. 
Their [the Mawlfeans'J reverence for John is of a piece 
with their whole syncretizing attitude towards the New 
Testament. Encyc. Brit., XV. 470. 
syncrisis (sing'kri-sis), n. [LL., < Gr. aiynpiaic, 
a putting together, a comparison, < ovyKplvecv, 
separate and compound anew, < arv, together, 
+ Kpiveiv, separate, discern: see crisis.] Inrliet., 
a figure by which opposite things or persons 
are compared. 
syncytial (sin-sit'i-al), a. [<.si/ncytittm + -al.] 
Pertaining to or of the nature of a syncytium. 
Syncytium (siu-sit'i-um), w. ; pi. syitcytia (-a). 
[NL., < Gr. aii>, together, + nvrof, a hollow.] 
A multinucleate cell; a cell-aggregate; a single 
cell with two or more nuclei, resulting from the 
division of an originally single nucleus in the 
course of the growth of the cell, unaccompa- 
nied by any division of the cell-substance prop- 
er, or from the concrescence of a number of 
cells the protoplasm of which runs together, 
but the respective nuclei of which do not coa- 
lesce. The word has somewhat varied application to 
certain embryonic formations and to some adult tissues, 
as striped muscular fiber, certain parts of sponges, etc. 
The ectoderm [of a calcareous sponge] is a transparent, 
slightly granular, gelatinous mass in which the nuclei 
are scattered, but which, in the unaltered state, shows no 
trace of the primitive distinctness of the cells which con- 
tain these nuclei, and is therefore termed by Haeckel a 
syncytium. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 103. 
synd(siud), v. t. [More prop, sind, also sein; cf. 
Icel. synda, swim, syndr(syidr, svinidr), able to 
swim, < snnd, a swimming, = AS. sund, a sound, 
strait of the sea: see sountfl and swim 1 .] To 
rinse. [Scotch.] 
syndactyl, syndactyle (sin-dak'til), a. and . 
[< Gr. aiv, together, + 6dnTv/.of, a finger, digit: 
see dactyl.] I, n. Having the digits more or 
less united, (a) Web fingered or web-toed ; having the 
fingers or toes connected by skin, as a monstrosity of the 
human species, (ft) In mammal., having the toes nor- 
mally closely united by integument, or extensively in- 
closed in a com- 
mon integu- 
ment, as a kan- 
garoo or bandi- 
cootamongmar- 
supials and the 3 
siamang among 
apes, (c) In or- 
nith.: (1) Having 
the front toes 
more or less ex- f r 
tensively coher- h 
ent, so as to 
form a broad flat sole ; syngenesious, as the foot of a king- 
fisher. (2) Having all four toes united by swimming- 
webs; totipalmate or steganopodous, as a pelican. See 
cut under totipalmate. (3) Of or pertaining to the Syn- 
dactyli or Syndactylx, in any sense. 
II. n. A syndactyl person, mammal, or bird. 
Syndactylaet (sin-dak'ti-le), n. pi. [NL.: see 
syndactyl.] In ornith., in Sundevall's system: 
(a) A cohort of Anisodactyli, of an order Volu- 
mes, consisting of the bee-eaters (Meropidie), 
the motmots (Momotidst), the kingfishers (Al- 
cedinidse), and the hornbills (Bucerotidee), thus 
approximately corresponding to the Syndactyli 
(a), (b) A superfamily group of scutelliplantar 
Passeres, represented by the todies and mani- 
kins one of two divisions of this author's Kx- 
aspidese, the other being Lysodactylse. 
syndactyle, a. and n. See syndactyl. 
Syndactyli (sin-dak'ti-li), n.pl. [NL.: see syn- 
dactyl.] If. In ornith.: (a) In some systems, 
as those of Illiger, Cuvier, and others, a group 
of insessorial birds, having the front toes ex- 
tensively coherent, as is well illustrated in the 
kingfisher family. In Blyth s revision of Cuvier(1849), 
the Syndactyli were a division of his Strepitores, subdivided 
into two groups, Buceroides and Halcyoid.es. The former 
of these contained the hornbills and hoopoes ; the latter 
the rest of the syndactylous birds, as kingfishers, rollers, 
bee-eaters, jacamars, todies, and sawbills or motmots. 
(It) In Vieillot's system, a group of sea-birds, 
having all four toes webbed ; the totipalmate 
or steganopodous birds, now forming the order 
8teganopodes. 2. [/. c.] Plural of syndacty- 
lus, 2. 
syndactylic (sin-dak-til'ik), a. [< syndactyl + 
-ic.] Same as syndactyl. 
Syndactyl Foot of Kingfisher (Ceryit 
i.i.'.r '. natural size. I. hallux, or hind toi 
'e tjr- 
_, , :oe; a, 
toe ; 3, middle toe. which is extensively co- 
t with 4, outer toe. 
syndactylism (sin-dak'ti-lizm), w. [< syndactyl 
+ -ism.] Union of two or more digits ; syn- 
dactyl character or condition, as of an animal 
or its feet. 
In all the remaining Marsupials a peculiar condition of 
the pes, called syndactylixm, prevails. 
W. H. Flower, Osteology, p. 321. 
syndactylous (sin-dak'ti-lus), a. [< syndactyl 
syncretism.] + -ous.] Same as syndactyl. 
syndicate 
SyndactylUB (sin-dak'ti-lus), n. [NL. : see syn- 
ilnrtyl.] 1. A genus of gibbons, containing 
the Hylob<ites syndactylus or Sianuuiya syndac- 
lijln : same as Siamanya. 2. [/. c . ; pi. teyndac- 
ti/li (-li).] In teratol., a monster with more or 
less extensive union of fingers or toes. 
syndectomy (sin-dek'to-mi), n. [Irreg. < Gr. 
ain>il(eo/iiof), a ligament, + E/cro/n/, excision.] 
Excision of a strip of conjunctiva around the 
whole or a part of the periphery of the cornea. 
syndesmodontoid (sin-des-mo-don'toid), a. 
[< Gr. ai'viea/tof, a ligament, -f E. odontoid.] 
Formed by the transverse ligament of the atlas 
and the odontoid process of the axis : noting 
the synovial articulation between these parts. 
syndesmography (sin-des-mog'ra-fi), n. [< Gr. 
, a ligament (see syndesmosis), + -} pa<j>:a, 
, write.] Descriptive syndesmology; a 
description of or treatise on the ligaments and 
joints. 
syndesmology (sin-des-mol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. 
ai'vSea/iof, a ligament, + -/loj'/a, < /.tyetv, speak : 
see -ology.] The science of the ligamentous 
system ; the knowledge of the ligaments of the 
body and of the joints or articulations which 
they contribute to form. Also called dcamolof/y. 
syndesmopharyngeus (sm-des"mo-far-in-je''- 
ns), n.; pi. syndesmophorynyei (-5). [NL., < Gr. 
avvSeajiof, a ligament, + 0dpi')f, pharynx.] An 
occasional anomalous muscle of the pharynx 
of man. Also syndesmopnarynr/ius. 
syndesmosis (sin-des-m6'sis),. [NL.,< Gv.aiiv- 
deafiof, a band, ligament ( < awie ii,bind together, 
< <7i'v, together, + 6eiv, bind), + -osis.] In anat., 
the connection of bones by ligaments, fascia), 
or membranes other than those which enter 
into the composition of the joints. Nearly all 
joints are in fact immediately connected by ligaments; 
but syndesmosis is said of other and mediate connections 
between bones, especially by means of interosseous mem- 
branes, as those which extend the whole length of the 
radius and ulna, and of the tibia and fibula, connecting 
these bones respectively in their continuity. 
syndesmotic (sin-des-mot'ik ), a. [< syndesmo- 
sis (-ot-) + -ic.] Bound together, as two bones, 
by an interosseous fascia ; of or pertaining to 
syndesmosis. 
syndesmotomy (sin-des-mot'o-mi), w. [< Gr. 
, a band, ligament, -t- -ro///a, < rifivetv, 
, cut.] The anatomy of the ligaments; 
dissection of ligaments. 
syndetic, syndetical (sin-det'ik, -i-kal), a. [< 
Gr. mv&TiK6f, binding together, conjunctive, < 
(jwrferof, bound together, < owfalv, bind toge- 
ther, < aim, with, + ielv, bind.] Connecting by 
means of conjunctions or other connectives; 
pertaining to such connection: as, syndetic ar- 
rangement : opposed to asyndetic. 
syndic (sin'dik), . [< F. syndic = Sp. sindieo 
= Pg. syndico = It. sindieo = G. Dan. syndikus 
= Sw. syndicus = Russ. sindiku, < LL. syndictis, 
a representative of a corporation, a syndic, < 
Gr. ai>v6iKOf, an advocate in a court of justice, a 
representative of the state or of a tribe, a pub- 
lic officer, < am>, together, + Hoi, justice, law, 
right.] 1. An officer of government, invested 
with different powers in different countries ; a 
kind of magistrate intrusted with the affairs of 
a city or community ; also, one chosen to trans- 
act business for others. In Geneva the syndic was 
the chief magistrate. Almost all the companies in Paris, 
the university, etc., had their syndics. The University of 
Cambridge has its syndics, committees of the senate, form- 
ing permanent or occasional syndicates. See the third 
quotation. 
You must of necessity have heard often of a book written 
against the pope's jurisdiction, about three months since, 
by one Richer, a doctor and syndic of the Sorbonists. 
Donne, Letters, xlviii. 
The [local] examinations [of Oxford and Cambridge], Ju- 
nior, Senior, and Higher, are held at all places approved 
by the Syndics, or Delegates. A'. A. Rev., CXXVI. 233. 
Syndics are the members of special committees of mem- 
bers of the Senate, appointed by Grace from time to time 
for specific duties. 
Cambridge University Calendar, 1889, p. 4. 
The president of the [Swiss] executive council (who is 
also sometimes called Hauptmann, sometimes Syndic) 
often exercises some functions separately from the Coun- 
cil ; but, as a rule, all executive action is collegiate. 
W. Wilson, State, 52fi. 
2. In the French law of bankruptcy, an assignee 
in trust ; a trustee. 
syndical (sin'di-kal), o. [< syndic + -!.] Of 
or pertaining to a syndic. 
syndicate 1 ! (sin'di-kat), r. (. ; pret. and pp. 
syndicated, ppr. syndicating. [< ML. synil/i'dtiix, 
pp. of syndicare (> OF. syndiqner), examine, 
investigate, censure, < LL. syndievs, a public 
officer, a syndic : see syndic.] To judge ; cen- 
sure. 
