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Jan 20, 2009 This week's theme Words from Obama This week's words cohere syncretic endemic abrogate sui generis Today's word in Visual Thesaurus The Audacity of Hope Discuss Feedback RSS/XML A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg syncretic PRONUNCIATION: (sin-KREH-tik) MEANING: adjective: Combining different forms of belief or practice. ETYMOLOGY: From Latin syncretismus, Greek synkretismos (union), from synkretizein (to unite in the manner of the Cretan cities), from syn (together) + Kret-, Kres (Cretan). USAGE: "Traditionally, Indonesians practiced a tolerant, almost syncretic brand of faith, infused with the Buddhist, Hindu, and animist traditions of earlier periods." Barack Obama; The Audacity of Hope; Crown Publishers; 2006. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. I am living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has. -Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S. (1809-1865)

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