syn·e·sis (s n -ss)n. A construction in which a form, such as a pronoun, differs in number but agrees in meaning with the word governing it, as in If the group becomes too large, we can split them in two. [Greek sunesis, union, understanding, from sun  enai, to understand, bring together : sun-, syn- + henai, to send, hurl; see y - in Indo-European roots.] |
synesis [ˈsɪnɪsɪs]
n
(Linguistics / Grammar) a grammatical construction in which the inflection or form of a word is conditioned by the meaning rather than the syntax, as for example the plural form have with the singular noun group in the sentence the group have already assembled
[via New Latin from Greek sunesis union, from sunienai to bring together, from syn- + hienai to send]
synesis
the practice of using a grammatical construction that conforms with meaning rather than with strict regard for syntax, such as a plural form of a verb following a singular subject that has a plural meaning.
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