syncretic

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The Word of the Day for October 14 is:

syncretic   \sin-KRET-ik\   adjective 
      : characterized or brought about by the combination of different forms of 
belief or practice 

Example sentence: 
      Dr. Portman practices a syncretic form of medicine, borrowing from both 
Eastern and Western medical traditions.

Did you know? 
      "Syncretic" has its roots in an ancient alliance. It's a descendant of 
the Greek word "synkretismos," meaning "federation of Cretan cities" -- "syn-" 
means "together, with," and "Kret-" means "Cretan." The adjective first 
appeared in English in the mid-19th century, and the related noun "syncretism" 
debuted over 200 years earlier. "Syncretic" retains the idea of coalition and 
appears in such contexts as "syncretic religions," "syncretic societies," and 
even "syncretic music," all describing things influenced by two or more styles 
or traditions. The word also has a specific application in linguistics, where 
it refers to a fusion of grammatical forms.






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