[ad. mod.L. syncrētismus (D. Pareus, 1615), a. Gr. συγκρητισμός, f. συγκρητίζειν to SYNCRETIZE. Cf. F. syncrétisme, ‘the ioyning, or agreement, of two enemies against a third person’ (Cotgr.).
Spelt syncratism by Ash (1775), who derives it from κράτος power; the spelling is recorded by some later Dicts.]
Attempted union or reconciliation of diverse or opposite tenets or practices, esp. in philosophy or religion; spec. the system or principles of a school founded in the 17th century by George Calixtus, who aimed at harmonizing the sects of Protestants and ultimately all Christian bodies: see CALIXTIN. 2. (Almost always in derogatory sense.)
1618. Barnevelt’s Apol., Ded. A 4. We may much blush thereat: yea euen as much as we patiently did for your Syncretisme, after it lighted into the hands and style of Moguntinus the Iesuit.
[1651. C. Walker, Hist. Independ., III. 26. Independency being a meer complication and Syncretismus, or rather a Sink and Common Sewer of all Errours.]
1653. Baxter, Meth. Peace Consc., 274. Plotting a Carnal Syncretism, and attempting the reconcilement of Christ and Belial.
1660. Stillingfl., Iren., I. vi. § 3 (1662), 109. Grotius … when hee designed the Syncretism with the Church of Rome.
1778. Apthorpe, Preval. Chr., 162. This divine light … was … obscured by the prevailing syncretism of true and false religion.
1831. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 409. Their particular dissensions were merged in a general syncretism to resist the novelty equally obnoxious to all.
1839. Hallam, Lit. Eur., III. iii. § 96. It may be considered as a part of this syncretism, as we may call it, of the material and immaterial hypotheses, that Descartes [etc.].
1853. Fraser’s Mag., XLVII. 294. Syncretism, under every possible form—ethical, political, social, and theological, was the favourite policy of the Roman emperors. They would have all the varieties of mankind called in and restamped at the Cæsarean mint.
1887. A. Lang, Myth, Ritual, & Relig., xv. II. 94. The process of syncretism, by which various god-names and god-natures are mingled, so as to unite the creeds of different nomes and provinces.
