The word 'synthetic' has a clear compositional logic derived from Greek. It originates from the Greek synthetikos, meaning "skilled in putting together", which itself comes from syntithenai ("to put together"), a compound of syn- ("together") and tithenai ("to put, to place"). This literal sense of "placing elements together" evolved logically into the modern scientific meaning of constructing a compound by combining simpler substances. The abstract sense of "artificial" or "not natural" developed from the idea of something being assembled by human artifice rather than occurring spontaneously in nature.

Structure: syn (together) + thet (to put, to place) + ic (adjective suffix) syn: A prefix of Greek origin meaning "together, with". thet: A root of Greek origin from the verb tithenai, meaning "to put, to place". ic: An adjective-forming suffix of Greek and Latin origin.