synteresis

S1Y4N1T1E1R1E1S1I1S1
UK/sɪntɪˈɹiːsɪs/

noun

An aspect of one's conscience by which one can judge wrong from right and decide on what makes good conduct (as distinguished from syneidesis).

OriginAncient Greek συντήρησις →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounsynteresis (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountablelifestyleAn aspect of one's conscience by which one can judge wrong from right and decide on what makes good conduct (as distinguished from syneidesis).

    Synteresis, or the purer part of the conscience, is an innate habit, and doth signify “a conservation of the knowledge of the law of God and Nature, to know good or evil”.

    1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, New York: New York Review Books, published 2001, →ISBN, page 166
  2. obsoleteuncountablemedicinePreventive treatment; prophylaxis.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekσυντήρησις“careful watching”
  2. Englishsynteresis

From Medieval Latin syntērēsis (in Thomas Aquinas), from Ancient Greek συντήρησις (suntḗrēsis, “careful watching”), from συντηρεῖν (suntēreîn, “to keep guard”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Esperanto sinderezo
  • sinderezoTranslations
Spanish sindéresis
  • sindéresisTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

synteresis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synteresis

MLA

“synteresis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synteresis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “synteresis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/synteresis.

Source: synteresis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.