synod

From Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos, “assembly, meeting”) – from σύν (sún, “with”) (English syn-) + ὁδός (hodós, “way, path”).

Compare also with the term סַנְהֶדְרִין (“sunédrion”) common throughout Hebrew Talmudic literature.

• enPR: sĭn'əd, IPA^(key): /ˈsɪn.əd/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

synod (plural synods)

1. (Christianity) An ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters.
   • 2023 October 2, Jason Horowitz, Elisabetta Povoledo, “What Is a Synod in the Catholic Church? And Why Does This One Matter?”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     Addressing a number of previously taboo topics, this synod could result in several liberalizing reforms, though there is no guarantee that it will produce anything at all.

2. (Christianity) An administrative division of churches, either the entire denomination, as in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or a mid-level division (middle judicatory, district) as in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
3. An assembly or council having civil authority; a legislative body.
   • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

     It hath in solemn synods been decreed.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     A third part of the Gods, in synod met / Their deities to assert; who, while they feel / Vigour divine within them, can allow / Omnipotence to none.

   • a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Last Parting of Hector and Andromache. From the Sixth Book of the Iliad.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 455:

     Parent of Gods and Men, propitious Jove! / And you bright ſynod of the Pow'rs above; / On this my ſon your gracious gifts beſtow; / Grant him to live, and great in arms to grow, [...]

4. (astronomy) A conjunction of two or more of the heavenly bodies.

Usage differs between different churches – see uses in different Communions.

• council

• antisynod
• general synod
• holy synod
• synodal
• synodality
• synodic

• Dyson, dynos, dyons

synod m inan

1. synod (an ecclesiastic council or meeting to consult on church matters)

   Synonym: synoda

Borrowed from French synode, from Ecclesiastical Latin synodus, from Ancient Greek σύνοδος (súnodos).

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɨ.nɔt/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɨnɔt
• Syllabification: sy‧nod

synod m inan

1. (Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism) synod (ecclesiastic council or meeting)

• synod in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• synod in Polish dictionaries at PWN