Syntactic
/sɪnˈtæk.tɪk/noun
Relating to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a Greek military root tied to arranging troops in formation, so “syntax” began as a matter of disciplined order before it became grammar.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
syntaktikos
“arranging together; skilled in ordering”
Late Greek
Greek
syntaxis
“arrangement; orderly combination”
Late Latin
Latin
syntaxis
“arrangement; grammatical construction”
14th Century
English
syntaxis
“grammar; orderly arrangement of words”
16th Century
English
syntax
“the arrangement of words and phrases in sentences”
Modern English
English
syntactic
“relating to syntax”