Main Entry:

¹syn·thet·ic

Pronunciation:

\sin-ˈthe-tik\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Greek synthetikos of composition, component, from syntithenai to put together

Date:

1697

1: relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic <the synthetic aspects of a philosophy>2: attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated — compare analytic3: characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships <synthetic languages>4 a (1): of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis ; especially : produced artificially <synthetic drugs> <synthetic silk> (2): of or relating to a synfuel b: devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities c: factitious, bogus

— syn·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb