syn-, sy-, sym-, syl-, sys-

(Greek: with, together with; also by extension: united; same, similar; at the same time)

blepharosynechia (s), blepharosynechiae (pl)
Adhesion, or growing together, of the eyelids.
brachysyndactyly
Abnormal shortness of fingers or toes combined with a webbing between the adjacent digits.
cacosyntheton, cacosintheton (s) (noun); cacosynthetons, cacosinthetons (pl)
The improper placing of words, as when an adjective improperly follows a noun or when there is any other unpleasing order of words.
carotid sinus syndrome, carotid sinus syncope
1. A temporary loss of consciousness which sometimes causes provoked convulsive seizures as a result of the intensity of the carotid sinus reflex when pressure increases in one or both carotid sinuses.
2. Intense hypotension (low blood pressure) and bradycardia (abnormally slow heartbeat) following carotid sinus stimulation, resulting in dizziness, fainting or convulsions, and occasionally other neurologic symptoms.
chemical sympathectomy, medical sympathectomy
A partial or complete sympathetic nerve or ganglion block, brought about pharmacologically by ganglion-blocking agents.

This may be accomplished in the form of an injection of a local anesthetic into the ganglia concerned for temporary inducement or the injection of alcohol or phenol for permanent inducement.

chemosynthesis, chemosynthetic
1. The use of inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide to synthesize carbohydrates from energy released by chemical reactions rather than by absorbed light.
2. The synthesis of organic compounds using chemical energy derived from the oxidation of simple inorganic substrates.
chrymosymphily (s) (noun) (no pl)
In biology, an amicable interaction between ants and lepidopterous larvae: It was fascinating to listen to the professor talking about chrymosymphily in which the larvae of butterflies and moths and ants helped each other out to survive!
cionectomy, kionectomy
The surgical removal of all or part of the uvula.
computer vision syndrome, CVS (s) (noun), computer vision syndromes (pl)
1. A condition related to prolonged computer monitor use; such as, people who are viewing computer screens who tend to blink less and open their eyes more widely, all of which can result in dryness of the eyes, fatigue, burning, difficulty in focusing, headaches, etc.
2. CVS is caused by the decreased blinking reflex of the eyes while working long hours focusing on computer screens.

The normal blinking rate in human eyes is about 16–20 blinks per minute and recent studies have shown that the blinking rate decreases to as low as 6–8 blinks a minute for people who are working on computer screens for long periods and this can lead to an irritating condition called dry eyes.
3. A variety of problems related to prolonged viewing of a computer screen.

Short term effects include dry eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue and excessive tearing.

Long term effects include migraines, cataracts, and visual epilepsy.

Some solutions include keeping reflections and glare to a minimum and to provide a non-fluorescent, uniform light source.

Special lamps are available that maintain the proper light around the monitor and generate light at much higher frequencies than regular light bulbs.

Glasses Can Correct Near and Far, but What About Those Screens in Between?

More people are showing up at eye appointments complaining of headaches, fatigue, blurred vision and neck pain—all symptoms of computer-vision syndrome (CVS), which affects about 90% of the people who have spent three hours or more a day at a computer, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

—Compiled from information located at
"Becoming a Squinter Nation" by Melinda Beck;
The Wall Street Journal; August 17, 2010.
conjunctive symbiosis (s) (noun), conjunctive symbioses (pl)
1. A symbiosis (relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent and each gains benefits from the other) characterized by the bodily union between the symbionts or one of two different organisms that live together.
2. Ordinarily symbiosis where the association is advantageous, or often necessary, to one or both, and not harmful to either.
3. When there is a bodily union in extreme cases so close that the two form practically a single body, as in the union of algae and fungi to form lichens, and in the inclusion of algae in radiolarians (any of various marine protozoans of the group Radiolaria, having rigid skeletons usually made of silica).
craniosynostosis, craniosclerosis
1. Thickening of the skull.
2. Premature fusion of the cranial sutures, usually occurring before birth, and resulting in deformity of the skull.

The fusion prevents the normal shape given to the cranium by the growth of the brain; therefore, fusion of the sagittal suture (line of union between the two parietal bones or side bones of the skull), the most common form, prevents lateral growth and allows compensatory expansion forward and backward, giving a long, narrow shape of the head, sometimes with a ridge at the metopic suture (persistent frontal suture or the seam or line at which two edges have been joined between the two halves of the frontal bone line (scaphocephaly).

Asymmetrical forms also occur.

desynchronize (verb), desynchronizes; desynchronized; desynchronizing
To cause something to happen at different times: To desynchronize is to prevent things from being done at the same time and speed.

For example, the mechanics at Tom's local automobile shop desynchronize their work, or automatically take care of the various vehicles at different times.

desynchronous (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to the lack of synchrony: Desynchronous effects arise when there is an absence of simultaneous occurrences of two events, as in brain waves.
dissymmetrical, dissymmetric
The absence or lack of symmetry; that is, not being the same or corresponding on both sides of a central dividing line.
dissymmetry (s), dissymmetries (pl)
The absence of, or the lack of, symmetry or the dissimilarity of related parts or organs on the opposite sides of the body which are normally alike; asymmetry.

Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving word units dealing with "equal, identical, same, similar": auto-; emul-; equ-, equi-; homeo-; homo-; iso-; pari-; peer; rhomb-; tauto-.