synchronicity
synchronicity
UK[ˌsɪŋkrəˈnɪsəti]US[ˌsɪŋkrəˈnɪsəti]
n
the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (such as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality.
n
the quality or fact of being synchronous.
Morpheme Breakdown
syn
chron
icity
syn
together
chron
time
icity
state or quality
Etymology
the word synchronicity is a modern construction built from classical greek components. it combines 'syn-', denoting union or conjunction, with 'chronos', the fundamental term for time, and the abstract latin suffix '-icity'. coined in the 20th century by psychologist carl jung, the term was designed to describe a hypothesized meaningful connection between simultaneous events, a concept where 'togetherness in time' transcends mere coincidence. thus, the literal building blocks 'together' and 'time' evolved to signify an abstract, acausal principle of connectedness.
Analysis
Structure: syn (together) + chron (time) + icity (state or quality)
syn is a prefix from greek, meaning 'together, with'. chron is a combining form from greek 'khronos', meaning 'time'. icity is a noun-forming suffix from latin '-icitas', indicating a state or quality.
Examples
he experienced a strange synchronicity when he thought of an old friend just as she called.
jung used the concept of synchronicity to explain seemingly meaningful coincidences.
the synchronicity of their watches was crucial for the mission's success.