n.1 Philos. & Theol. the process or an instance of syncretizing (see SYNCRETIZE).
2 Philol. the merging of different inflectional varieties in the development of a language.
Derivatives:
syncretic adj. syncretist n. syncretistic adj.
Etymology: mod.L syncretismus f. Gk sugkretismos f. sugkretizo (of two parties) combine against a third f. kres Cretan (orig. of ancient Cretan communities)