Also erron. 6, 9 -chisis, 7–8 -chesis. [late L., a. Gr. σύγχυσις, f. συγχεῖν to mingle, confuse, f. σύν SYN- + χεῖν to pour. Cf. F. synchyse in sense 1, synchysis in sense 2.]
1. Gram. and Rhet. A confused arrangement of words in a sentence, obscuring the meaning.
1577. Peacham, Gard. Eloquence, Gj. Synchisis, a confusion of order, in all partes of the construction.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., 198. They will oft haue a Synchesis, or a disordered confusion of their wordes.
1672. Dryden, Def. Epilogue, Ess. (Ker), I. 167. And be free Not Heaven it self from thy Impiety. A synchysis, or ill-placing of words of which Tully so much complains in oratory.
a. 1685. Knatchbull, Annol. N. Test., Acts xiii. 27 (1693), 133. The English Translator hath exprest the sence, but not Translated strictly to the words, which by reason of the Synchysis … being not well distinguished, are not … so rightly rendred as they ought.
2. Path. Softening or fluidity of the vitreous humour of the eye; called sparkling synchysis (s. scintillans) when minute flakes of cholesterin float in the humour, causing a sparkling appearance in the field of vision.
1684. trans. Blancard’s Phys. Dict. (1693), Synchysis, a preternatural Confusion of the Blood and Humours of the Eye.
1847–9. Todd’s Cycl. Anat., IV. 99/1. The peculiar softening of the vitreous humour called sparkling synchisis.
