syncategorematic

adjective

syn·cat·e·gor·e·mat·ic ˌsin-ˌka-tə-ˌgȯr-ə-ˈma-tik

-ˌgȯr-ē-

: forming a meaningful expression only in conjunction with a denotative expression (such as a content word)

logical operators and function words are syncategorematic

syncategorematically

ˌsin-ˌka-tə-ˌgȯr-ə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē

-ˌgȯr-ē-

adverb

Did you know?

In ancient Greek logic, katēgorēma referred to something that was affirmed or denied about the subject in a proposition. For instance, in "the paper is white," "whiteness" would be the katēgorēma. Seventeenth-century logicians extended this concept, which they called "categorem," to cover the subject of the proposition as well. So, in the proposition "All men are mortal," mortality is a categorem and so is man. But what about all? Words like all that signify quantity (as well as words that function as adverbs, prepositions, or conjunctions) are syncategoremata—that is, they are words that have meaning in propositions only when used in conjunction "with" other words. (Syn- means "with.")

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin syncategoremat-, syncategorema syncategorematic term, from Greek synkatēgorēma, from synkatēgorein to predicate jointly, from syn- + katēgorein to predicate — more at category

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of syncategorematic was in 1827

See more words from the same year

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Syncategorematic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syncategorematic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation