Logic. Also 7 -eme. [ad. med.L. syncatēgorēma (Thomas Aquinas), a. Gr. συγκατηγόρημα, f. συγκατηγορεῖν (in Logic) to predicate jointly: cf. SYN- and CATEGOREM.] A word that cannot be used by itself as a term, but only in conjunction with another word or words: e.g., a sign of quantity (as all, some, no), or an adverb, preposition, or conjunction.
1653. R. Baillie, Dissuas. Vind. (1655), 62. Are not diverse universall propositions even with the Syncatagorem of universalitie of an indefinite nature and sense, which admit the exception of some particulars?
1697. trans. Burgersdicius’ Logic, I. xxix. 116. The Syncategoremes or consignificative Terms … that signifie nothing of themselves but when join’d to other Words, as every one, all, all that, &c.
