THETHE
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`AMERICANAMERICAN
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`HERITAGE®HERITAGE®
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`COLLEGECOLLEGE
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`DICTIONARYDICTIONARY
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`
`in this Dictionary on the basis of their
`Words are ittclutlctl
`usage. Wor:l.t‘. that an: known to have C'l.lJ'l'I.‘l‘1.l tradcmarl-1 reg-
`istrations are shown with an initial capital and are also iden-
`tified as ttadernarks. No investigation has been made of
`ccunn1on—Iaw tradenlark rights in any word, because such in-
`vestigation is itnpracticalmle. The inclusion of any word in this
`Dictionary is not, however, an expression of the l’ulJlisl1cr's
`opinion as to whctlmr or not it is subject to propl'iet.1r}‘ rights.
`Indeed, nu definition in this Dictionary is to be regarded as
`affecting the validity of :my trailemari-:.
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`Library of Congress Catalogirzg-in-Publication Data
`The American heritage college dictionary. —3rd ed.
`p.
`Lrn.
`ISBN 0-395-66917-0 (plain edge]. —ISBN 0-395-44638-4
`(thumb edge). —ISBN 0-395-66918-9 (deluxe binding).
`1. English |:mgnagc—Diction:-tries.
`2. Americanisms.
`PE1628.A6227
`1993
`423 — dc2O
`92-42124
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`

`
`1376
`
`synchronic
`linguistics
`
`synesis
`
`aiiviimu
`
`syncupation
`From MozarK’s
`Symphony no. 25
`
`related, conceived in the theory of Carl Jung as an explana-
`tory principle on the same order as causality.
`synchronic linguistics n. (used with /1 sing. :1.) Descriptive lin»
`E';l]!5llC5.
`syn-elirn-nism (sirig-'ltr.i-iii'r.’:iii, irin"-3 1!.
`‘I. Cniticiilence in
`tin
`siniiiiiiiiieoiisne-is. Z. A L'l‘l1'0IILI l_I['_lCJ.l listing Lil" hisitiri-cal
`pei'iir=i1.igcs or i:vL'm§ sci as to li'|t.l|C2|IC parallel cxlslmltu nr
`l3ECUI'I'lJli'lCE 3. “.C|)l'|1§CI'll:n'IlI(JI'I
`l'l'l
`[I19 5ill"l.'
`'.'“l'Ua‘EI1'l( Elf l‘\'liI'll§
`il-irii Ufflllfcd at cliffereiil
`(Il11E‘!e. —syn’i.'I1i'ci-nisflfit. syn?‘
`clIl'£!'{‘ll5l'l'l'C.'al (-ti-lrall
`irri';'. —syn’t:|:ro—nlsft|-:31-lyiititr.
`syn-clirc-nice is"irig"kr.‘i-rti'z'. sin’-J IL -nlzed. -I'lll'lI1Q. 411:-
`GS.
`-— mrr. 1. To ljl.‘ siiiililtniietllls. 2. To npL't‘nte in urtisntl.
`— tr. 1.a. To cause to occur or operate with exact coincidence
`in time or rate. b. To cause to occur or operate at the same
`rinw -.is i<tiiiii_-iliing else. 2. Ta .'1!"|'.l[|g{' [Iit'si'tirira| ewinisl in a
`'.}‘[1Ei1r|J11tfi|l1 sn as in iittli‘t-.iii- p-.ir.1lIr:I uccurrenct-_ 3. To i::iiise
`[muiidtnek and -.u'riririJ ni maieli ex:it'ili' in .1 lilin. [Gin sim-
`l‘.'l‘iiuriie
`ii.
`in he ciinreiiipoiaty <; sriiikliiwius. t.‘oiiti:rniiora-
`neniis See §Tn.‘l'Il|'lt":INi'|li‘§.l —syn'i:1‘iro-ttl-za'l.icIn {-iii-'.'.:'i'-
`5lI;\l1} ir.
`syn-chro-nixed swimming l-'iF11{-Lrkfi-i‘li’Jl.l'. tin’-) ll. Sports.
`A sport or ill! exliiliiiiuii
`in \\'lllITl1 5\\'lI1|llu:l’5. singly or in
`griiiipr. perform dilFlCK'liklI‘I11U\'(‘|l1lJl]i!| niit-n in music.
`S_lf]‘i'I:l1I’0'I‘lIZ'EF (a'ing’kra-iii":.nr,
`iii’-l ii. 1. one that syn~
`izlim-iiier.'5 Z. F..‘tmi_ri.
`.‘i'i:r. A siurtig-i:
`i.‘le\'irc li'!:‘11 compensates
`lo! 2 lllltlifftlllit L-i-.‘1wi:eii
`the i'r1ti:s ill
`\vlII\‘lI
`information is
`|‘l'UCI'?5."sC|.‘l in Iwu or limit: devices.
`|.J.:ci.irring in ex-
`syn
`l1.l'0'l'I0'LIS isi1ig’li<r:—nrr5,
`:iil’1"J .'m'j. 1.
`isting at ilic
`-iiiir time. 2. h-luviiii_-. or <"r|!L'l'FlflF|£,
`.11 the sums
`lune, 3.3. l'ln\
`g iiii'.r1Ii~..-1lJ])cIinLl.~.. l). l'l{l\I|IIg |tlel1lu:.1I period
`.m.l
`lil-ia;i_~,
`|
`l_l,;it_ i:)-mu: Jr(;iJllt.\'
`-L‘ Git. siiirlthlrlrrus :
`.\'!m-,
`s)'n— + iciirmins. nnie.| —syn’thro-nous-1y mli-. —syn'-
`chro-nous-ness n.
`|ll‘Dpt.'lJ.'-
`ill iiinim with ;i ipcctl iliri-i.'i1_i'
`synchronous rnotar ii.
`I.inri:1l
`in rlii:
`lrci;i.icnc}' of H5 alternating cirrrclrt power.
`synchronous clrblt ii. A gCl.)5l.1[l[Jl‘I.'I|'}‘ orbit.
`syn-ehro-ny [singi ltrn-ne, sin?-J n.. pl. -nies. Simltlrirnee-us ric-
`cuirence-, synehrnuisin. f< S\"NEIlll(JNt}ll.'n.l
`syn-clirn-tron (siiig'l-cr.1-irafiit’.
`iiiii’-} II’.
`.’\r1 acceleriiiui
`iii
`wliicli i:h'.irgei| particles are acct t:l'?iIt!(l
`.'lIUl.l[lLl a fixed i:irn1-
`I.-rr path by an electrit
`lield and hclcl
`to flat: ['I:IllI by an in-
`cretisiiig inagrtetic Eicld.
`synchrotron radiation I'I. lilectrunidglicric mcliaticiri crniuctl li_\'
`iiigli-eiieigy .1i'i.i'i.'l-cs wlicu accclcmlcd. tu relativistic speeds in
`a lliagneric icltl.
`S3'n'Cll'l13l [Sill-ltlilnnll
`rrrij. 1.. 5i0])lL'l1; clowriwnrtl ftoni
`:>p—
`poiriti: tlirt:cII<)ns in meat in a cnrniunti point or line. 2. Ceral.
`Rcliitirig to, for-iriei;l by. or forming .1
`.s5‘r1t:lint.'.
`syn-cllne lsin’k1'in'l ll. Gaol. A loltl in rocks in wliich the reel:
`layers dip iiiwiirtl [i-nni both sides [OWdl'll. the axis.
`syn-co-pats lsingiics-pm’, sin’-l
`rr.i.r. -pat-ed. -paving.
`-patcs. 1. t’}r.~m:. Tn slicirten [:I word]: by syncnp
`Z. Mm. To
`rntrdily irhylliinl by 5y|'lClIl[J:Ltil'J1}. ]Ll_:Il. .-i'_yi:!£I.l!l-‘fit’, 5}ur.i:rifniI-
`-: syireripé, syncope. Sue svNcnr'r.] —synfi:mpa'tor ii.
`syn-co-pa-titan [.<ing'l;a-pfifsliaii, sin‘-) 2!. I. ilaizis. A shlil til
`accent in .1 passage or com o.-:itzon ll1'.'Il occurs when 11 nor-
`mcilly weak hear is sireziset. 2. Something. such as rliyiliiii.
`that
`is sviicci]-iateel. 3. Cm:-ii. 53,-iictipe.
`symeu-pe lsirigflra-pé, s'i‘itI'-) tr. 1. Grrrm. The Sll(}rLt'.Illl]j;{ Oi a
`word It nmis.' in of ii smintl. iener, or syllable {mm the mid-
`dle til’ tile WI'.|l't1‘, for eiczinipie. l:us‘ii [nr lmrrl.-m.-rii'ir. 2. Fnrlml.
`A L1rieF lmr. of crinscititisntzss due I0 -'1 IEKUP‘-WM‘ ilfllt‘-IMCY Of
`oxygen in the brain. [Ull;. < LLat. syncope" < Gk. sunkopé <
`sunkoptein,
`to cut short : sun-, syn- + koptein,
`to strike.]
`—syn’co-pal
`(singlka—p;il, sin’-), syn-cop’ic (sin-k6p'il<)
`Fifi].-
`syn-ere-tlsm isTi:i.1’ltr‘l-tir.':iii-1,
`riii’—:I
`rr. 1.
`l'lr.-ct-iiiciliation or
`ii.ii.i-in cl differ-iirig, 5_\‘.‘il'CI¥'lE of iveliei, esp. with partial success
`til
`it
`lIr:tr:t'cIgcneoti5 result. 2. Ling. TIN: merging of two or
`more origiriiilly different
`inflr.-ctional
`irmiis. LGI4. sunkréti-
`sums. union <. 3I4riil.'ri?li-zrun, to unite [in the manner of the
`Cretan cities)
`: sun-,
`syn— + Krés, Kréi.‘-, Cretan.] —syn-
`cretiic (-krét’Il<), syn'cre-tisltlc (-kri-Lisltik) adj. —synI-
`cre-tist n.
`syn-era-tize isliigfliti-I-tin’, sin’-J V. -tired. —ti1-lng. -ll:-I35.
`—.'r. To reconcile and unite tdifieriiiig Ti:'l1gl(lIL( helicis, Eur
`cit.-iiniiiei. esp. Willi partial success ur ll Iieiereigelieniis l't‘SlIll..
`—m.li'. To syncrctizc tliifcrlilg Elements or beliefs.
`[G]-t. slui-
`kréti.:i:'i'Ji_ in unit: agaiiist :1 t‘tJiIrrnIJ1i El'IE['ll‘J' Sill: §1!N(‘R1:‘rIi.M.l
`syn-cy-tl-um isiii--fiilifevamj
`f|'.. pl.
`-CY"i’.l'E (-‘SiSl1'E'.“:I].
`it
`mast nf l:_VIL1pl.l1§I‘L‘l with iiiiiiiy nuclei but no inieniiil cl.-II
`boundaries. [NLat.
`:SYN- + cvT(o)— + —iuM.]
`synd. abbr. Syndicate.
`syn-dac-tyl (sin—d:‘il<’Lal) Biol. n. An animal, esp. a bird or
`mammal, that has two or more fused digits. [Fr. syndactyle :
`Gk. sun-, syn- + Gk. da/ctulos, finger.] —-syn-dac’tyl. syn-
`daclty-lous (-ta-las) adj.
`syn-dac-ty-ly (sin-d2“il<’ta—le) or syn-dac-tyl-lsm (-ta-liz’am)
`ix. Biol. 1. The condition of having two or more fused digits,
`as occurs normally in certain mammals and birds. 2. A con-
`genital anomaly in human beings characterized by two or
`more fused fingers or toes.
`
`syn 'fiES'l‘I1D'9lS lsiifidfix-iilt‘i"5iR._ -dis-J Ir,‘ pl‘ use
`:3rKit‘1_1]:tl1t1Ii
`in wliiclt
`ill:
`lllJI1l:.‘.i
`:ll'L‘
`itiiiieii by
`lNI,:it, 4. I-;k. riurtirsrrrris. limtil. llgflntunl. A 5""('
`togetliut. See §T|'1ll'IFT!(‘.l
`-— syn'des-mot’|i: (-.,,5
`syn-flat-ic (sin-dr”.-iiilti mii. 1. Serviiig [U l'.‘r0I11]t-ul
`iunerinn; mpul.iiit'e or cimjiirtctix-c. Z. Cfllligcctcd fi\ n cu
`]£II!|3ll0f'l. [Gk srindcrikn:
`§I.flKi.(‘Ifl.i. liriiinti ram“ 3'
`,1 (an.
`i'.l'I‘Hl. in hind iiigetliui
`:
`.<mi—. 5)‘I1- + rierii, In bin 'lL‘{ -,- “ll.
`_
`-
`-
`_
`IL]
`‘rt.
`syn clll: isiiifdlkl ir_ 1. One .'J.[)pnI[llELl LB rtprflent _
`iiiniiun in busiiicss traiisnctirinsi
`ri lmsinesi, age,“ '1"
`iiiiigisiraie or siinilrtr |._:{)Vc1'rl.lllCt1[ nil":
`.
`lll semi.
`l
`crinntriiss. [Fr. ~.'. l.')Fr. sfiidi: 2 LLrit. .“)Hl'i'il'Ci«’$ .; L
`lciis, ]1LllTll( itrlvric.-iic : 5im—, s)'n- + dike, iusiice;
`I
`— syn'di-cal irrfi.
`S)|'n'l2ll -cal-ism (ii?iir'i.li-l>.:i-li'a,’.'.irri] M. r\ tadicnl ptiliii -
`iueiii ilim flt.lI-'0C:lIc§ iwiiiging industry and giii'i:riin.:'i
`Illa: cimtrul uf fctlcnllinns of ltibcir uriiurin li}. [ht uw ill tin
`:l(T.ir.IIl. such as general siriltt':. and saliirtage. [1-'1-_ 5);” I'll
`.
`J.
`friit-iirrlii-til syirriimili-,
`trade uiiiciii.
`leiii. uf _,).“q.:f’_flii
`Iialmr u11ii.ii1 -6 sjmciic. dclcgztre. Sec s\'NI.m'..] —- 3)f"l'md ‘
`ml}. 6'
`ii. —is_'.rn'dl-cal-is-'l:lt'
`rid)".
`Syn-di-Cate (:«ii]'ili~l-(Till ii. 1. An .ii:scIcI:tl'i1in of pm,
`in n
`stiiiinrireii to undertake .1 iliuy ii:
`rramcifl spccilii: 1,‘: limit
`2. Ari aiisociaiitiii oi l'1Efl]'}ll_' ii: fiI‘I'|.l§ ltartllritl to gnga Eillitst.
`enterprise or }>I'tJ1i1ulc 9 common inLt'resi. 3, A |,_m5§“
`I
`lieu of gangsters in control of i”!Ig2ITll'J'.r:t:l cm-mnul M.
`““l1c2.
`4. An agency that scilr articles, Eeriturr-_t, Ln’ plinmgm
`pli; gm
`pi1l.ilit':iliuI'i
`Ill
`.1
`lIt1n'il.iL'l nf I'lt'w5p.1pt1l‘5 nr |JL‘T1DtlJL'al5 S.
`taiieiziiisly. S. A cciInp.'ii'i_\' Eansisring of ii number of 3‘. Im"|'
`llewspapers;
`.1 new.
`ripcr clirliil.
`‘l.‘i'ti: Dllice_ lms-“is-‘list:
`juflfitillftilllfl :3! ll syn 1:: or lititiy ui iiynriics. — ll. [_g.5,.i}'_i' “l
`eel. -cat-lug. -rates. —tr. 1.3. "I'D tirgriiiize mm or ..1-ma Eat‘
`A syiidiehie. b. To sell shares in. 2. Tu scll {an ll iii.-_l.:, pals" ‘i:
`or tiliotugraph] rlirciugh rt syiuiicaie. 3. Tu sell [3 t,|tL:.“‘".
`series, for exiiniplel directly to independent slnrioris, _ “U”
`Tr] goln tngctlict in il S)‘I'l‘liC_iliC. [FL syrlclrcrir <. OF ‘ Unclcc
`syntlrc -f. Mer.l.Lal. sjrrttitittltrrs -1.
`l.I..:L1:. 1'!-‘rtciitiris,
`,r.y”L|'lc S;
`:iiri~Ii.ii::.l- -- s:.rn’dl- ta ’tlim Pl. — syn i' dl -:a'tor ll.
`1
`syrt-drome [sTn’i.l.i:<‘im’) it. 1. A grriup Ell sympreiriis iim ml
`lcctivel)-' indicate or characterize :I disease or niiorlicr ahnmi
`ni-.rl
`I‘-0I1Llll.I(‘i1'I. 2.3. A ci:-triplex uf .-.-yiupttiiiis indicaririg ti.-
`existence Ill an iuitzluiiirailile cunclitinri or qIl.'llit}‘. b. A diiIII'IL'(-
`Iii‘-: or charactcriiilic paltcril oi lacliavicir. [Ck $3lJ.‘(lra"“:»l mm
`r.-ttrreiice U[5}"l1lPT()l‘I1S < smidroiiios. running iogetlier : rim-
`;yri- + dramas,
`:1
`ri1nnirtg.], — syn-drumiie [.dti-,i,“;k'
`er.-“imrii.-3 adj.
`‘
`syne [sinl Sears. — tldli. 1. Before now: ago. 2.
`.47l.fterw.1r.|.
`SlllL'C Ilicn: since. 3. Tllereupun; r1i.'.x'l.
`iioirf. Siiite, — ;,,_-F:
`Since.
`[S.:. < ME sirrbeir < OF. sr'tl'itbi:i:.]
`syn-ac-do-the (si-niilt-l't'la—kEl,
`:1. A ll
`rim of speccli in wliigf-.
`a pan is used Eur 'll'tc wlirile [air Pm-mi‘ or sailor], I.'l1: Wlinli: far
`it
`i\.'l!'t [as the film fur ;i-ul:'i:e nfliirerl. the specific for the gen.
`trill [its csrriiliirriat fur assiissiril. Ll'I|: geiicral lot the specific in
`thief for ,5-ikitpockrrri or the I'El:ll:E1'inl for the thing made from
`ll Iris seed for sruarri). [Ulr. <.
`l_.‘Il. synrcducbr? -< Gk. §l.i‘rrgl'{.
`ri’r.i:'cFrE < rtniefiifckiicsthai, to mice utl
`:1 share of ; star-, :tfn-
`+ eizifeiltiiesrlirti. iu undeisland lei:-, out inf; sec. eghs‘ + Jr-
`Irimsriiat.
`in take;
`tee diak—‘}.] -syn'ee-doe}-Hie [iiin'l.‘lt-
`i;li.':l:.-'ikl, 5yn’ec-doth’ l-cal (-i—in1i
`.rrc.l_i.
`5_'|l'l'I'E'(IQl'D‘Q.V l§in"ivl(i3l’a-|€]
`Jr. The sturdy of (‘be cculrjlgieal
`intcrreliititmsliips ariinng crimriiunlries of oi‘g.1ni5ms. ~syn'-
`2-co-|og"l: i-la-!i‘vi’ik), s_vri‘e-cu-Iogil-eril {—i—l-tall adj.
`syn-er-I3-sis also syn-air-tr-9-sis {si-1151'”-sis)
`IL.
`ill.
`‘I95
`(—iii':i'.-‘}. 1. Lin . The coinbining into one syllable of two cun-i
`5E‘Cl.lE'l\-‘E vow 5 i.'ir syllables, as in 2| Eliplithang, 2. Client. lil-
`iidnlirm of the liquid cnniintirieiit til ‘.1 gel. {Ll
`sjtiimeresir <
`Gk. srtritrrrasis =4 .i'mr:rt'rei'ir, to curiti-iii.-i
`: rrui-, 5}'I'I-
`-P i1rJ'lh“J'|’1i
`to take, grasp.]
`.
`'
`..
`_
`syn-er-get-ic (sin’ar-jét’il<) also syn-er~gic (si-nfir'jI”l<) will
`Synergistic.
`_
`syn-er-glcl isi-niirfjiil, slri’.‘rt-J 1:. One of nun 5l'l'l.l1ll cells ljtlilli
`iii:-at the egg in the embryo ism: of 3 Howe.-ring |!l:‘In[. [Ni-it
`sji-ireigidri 4: Gk. simergos. wcIi'lcing together. See r\'Neiiv:ii:.\i.
`syn-Br-gism [siir*‘ar—j‘i‘z.‘arnJ ll‘. 1. Synergy. Z. Tlieiii. The doi:-
`uine tltru: individual salvation is :icl1it-reti
`tlirniigh a CI‘l|l11J|'
`t1‘.lllE!n of liiitiitm will and divine grace. [NLiti. sjrtiergisi-iiris '-'
`Gl-C. riiiitngus, working Iugctlicr : srmn. syn~ + ergori. "~"”l"5
`sec werg-'.]
`.
`syn-er-gist (sin’ar-list} H. ‘l. A F}'flC{gI3liC urgnil, drllgi 3‘
`agent. 2. T'i'a.:ci!. An adhereiir of s nergisriii
`Syn'eJ"giS-l.'lI: lsin‘.~ir-|'i.-3-'tllt!I iril'_:'.
`. OI" or relating: it) sy'H='_lW'
`Z. Ftoiliiriiig I'll: capable ui prm.lLicing syiiisrgy. 3. Til.|r’0l'. OI 7-“
`relating to S)'[Il.'.IgiSF|'l. —~s)rn'er-gis’tl-cal-ly Edi).
`syn-E|"ElH lsin':ir-ii':] :-i., pl. -gles. 1. The il'lTB'l.'IC[lf}Il'l
`r.\l two rii
`intirr: agents or l'nri:c' so that ll'|Ell' combined cfitici is gtitalfr
`than the sum of their lni.ii\'i(lllfll effects. 2. Ci0<‘Ipt:r£lTi\'= "l-'5"
`action aiiiuiiggruups, such as Lbtporfltc sulzsirliaries, that L16’
`int-5 an enhanced combined effect. [< Gk. sriiie-rgiti, ctii.1P“'
`ation < simergos, woi-Jcing togeil-i::r. See $1£'N'l':l?i’.l.'-I-l-l
`syn-e-sis (sinii-sis) ii. A cnnstrtictinn in wiiicii ll form, such 95
`a pronoun, differs in number but agreus In Incaning “'lll‘ ‘he
`word governing it, as in 1! the group is too large. split t/79”’