synthetai

Synthetai is a Greek verb form derived from the verb syntheto (syn- + theto), meaning to place together or to compose. The prefix syn- means with or together, and the root theto or tithēmi (to place or set) conveys the act of arranging elements into a whole. In classical Greek, synthetai appears in various declensions and voices, functioning as a form that indicates an act of combining, arranging, or composing.

In usage, synthetai can convey the idea of bringing separate parts into a unified whole, whether in the context of speech, poetry, law, or philosophy. It may appear in narrative or didactic passages to describe how components are integrated, whether ideas, arguments, or material elements. As with many Greek verb forms, its exact nuance depends on voice (active, middle, or passive) and the broader syntactic context.

In historical and philological study, synthetai is often encountered when analyzing constructions that express synthesis or composition—for example, the act of compiling a work, harmonizing elements, or producing a coherent set of provisions. The term is also connected, etymologically and conceptually, to the modern English word synthesis and to the broader category of synthetic versus analytic modes in language and thought.

See also: Greek grammar, synthesis, synthetic concepts in philosophy, synthesis in science.

Note: The form and spelling can vary by dialect and period, and exact morphological labeling may differ in scholarly editions.