syncategorematic

adjective

syn·​cat·​e·​gor·​e·​mat·​ic ˌsin-ˌka-tə-ˌgȯr-ə-ˈma-tik 

-ˌgȯr-ē-

: forming a meaningful expression only in conjunction with a denotative expression (such as a content word)

logical operators and function words are syncategorematic

syncategorematically

ˌsin-ˌka-tə-ˌgȯr-ə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

-ˌgȯr-ē-

adverb

Did you know?

In ancient Greek logic, katēgorēma referred to something that was affirmed or denied about the subject in a proposition. For instance, in "the paper is white," "whiteness" would be the katēgorēma. Seventeenth-century logicians extended this concept, which they called "categorem," to cover the subject of the proposition as well. So, in the proposition "All men are mortal," mortality is a categorem and so is man. But what about all? Words like all that signify quantity (as well as words that function as adverbs, prepositions, or conjunctions) are syncategoremata - that is, they are words that have meaning in propositions only when used in conjunction "with" other words. (Syn- means "with.")

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin syncategoremat-, syncategorema syncategorematic term, from Greek synkatēgorēma, from synkatēgorein to predicate jointly, from syn- + katēgorein to predicate — more at category

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

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