Chapter Synepy to Syphilis of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

1. Words may thus coincide in certain connections, and so be interchanged, when they can not be interchanged in other connections; thus we may speak either strength of mind or of force of mind, but we say the force (not strength) of gravitation. 2. Two words may differ slightly, but this difference may be unimportant to the speaker's object, so that he may freely interchange them; thus it makes but little difference, in most cases, whether we speak of a man's having secured his object or having attained his object. For these and other causes we have numerous words which may, in many cases or connections, be used interchangeably, and these are properly called synonyms. Synonymous words "are words which, with great and essential resemblances of meaning, have, at the same time, small, subordinate, and partial differences, — these differences being such as either originally and on the ground of their etymology inhered in them; or differences which they have by usage acquired in the eyes of all; or such as, though nearly latent now, they are capable of receiving at the hands of wise and discreet masters of the tongue. Synonyms are words of like significance in the main, but with a certain unlikeness as well." Trench.

Synonymy
(Syn*on"y*my) n. [L. synonymia, Gr. a synonym: cf. F. synonymie.]

1. The quality of being synonymous; sameness of meaning.

2. A system of synonyms.

3. (Rhet.) A figure by which synonymous words are used to amplify a discourse.

Synopsis
(Syn*op"sis) n.; pl. Synopses [L., from Gr. sy`n with, together + a sight, view, from the root seen in E. optic.] A general view, or a collection of heads or parts so arranged as to exhibit a general view of the whole; an abstract or summary of a discourse; a syllabus; a conspectus.

That the reader may see in one view the exactness of the method, as well as force of the argument, I shall here draw up a short synopsis of this epistle.

Bp. Warburton.

Syn. — Abridgment; compendium; epitome; abstract; summary; syllabus; conspectus. See Abridgment.

Synoptic
(Syn*op"tic Syn*op"tic*al) a. [Gr. : cf. F. synoptique. See Synopsis.] Affording a general view of the whole, or of the principal parts of a thing; as, a synoptic table; a synoptical statement of an argument. "The synoptic Gospels." Alford. — Syn*op"tic*al*ly, adv.

Synoptic
(Syn*op"tic), n. One of the first three Gospels of the New Testament. See Synoptist.

Synoptist
(Syn*op"tist) n. Any one of the authors of the three synoptic Gospels, which give a history of our Lord's life and ministry, in distinction from the writer of John's Gospel, which gives a fuller record of his teachings.

Synosteology
(Syn*os`te*ol"o*gy) n. [Pref. syn- + Gr. bone + -logy.] That part of anatomy which treats of joints; arthrology.

Synosteosis
(||Syn*os`te*o"sis) n.; pl. Synosteoses [NL., fr. Gr. sy`n with + bone.] (Anat.) Union by means of bone; the complete closing up and obliteration of sutures.

Synostosis
(||Syn`os*to"sis) n. [NL.] Same as Synosteosis.

Synovia
(||Syn*o"vi*a) n. [NL., perhaps fr. Gr. sy`n with + L. ovum egg: cf. F. synovie.] (Anat.) A transparent, viscid, lubricating fluid which contains mucin and secreted by synovial membranes; synovial fluid.

Synovial
(Syn*o"vi*al) a. [Cf. F. synovial.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to synovia; secreting synovia.