The word 'syllabary' is a modern scholarly compound, formed in the 16th century from the Latin root syllaba and the adjectival suffix -ary. The Latin syllaba itself originates from the Greek syllabē, meaning 'that which is held together' or 'a taking together', derived from syn- (together) and lambanein (to take), conceptually describing how sounds are combined. Thus, a 'syllabary' is literally a collection or system 'pertaining to syllables', specifically denoting a writing system where each character represents a complete syllable rather than a single sound or an idea.

Structure: syllab (syllable) + ary (pertaining to) - syllab: From Latin syllaba (syllable), from Greek syllabē (a taking together, a syllable). It functions as the core root denoting the unit of sound. - ary: From Latin -arius (adjective-forming suffix meaning 'pertaining to, connected with'). It functions as a suffix forming nouns denoting a place for, a collection of, or something connected with the root.