n. [ L. syndictus, Gr. &unr_; helping in a court of justice, advocate; sy`n with + &unr_; justice, akin to &unr_; to show: cf. F. syndic. See Teach. ] 1. An officer of government, invested with different powers in different countries; a magistrate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) An agent of a corporation, or of any body of men engaged in a business enterprise; an advocate or patron; an assignee. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In France, syndics are appointed by the creditors of a bankrupt to manage the property. Almost all the companies in Paris, the university, and the like, have their syndics. The university of Cambridge, Eng., has its syndics, who are chosen from the senate to transact special business, such as the regulation of fees, the framing of laws, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Civil Law) One appointed to manage an estate, essentially as a trustee, under English law. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. 1. Consisting of, or pert. to, a syndic. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Of or pertaining to, or of the nature of, syndicalism. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. syndicalisme. ] The theory, plan, or practice of trade-union action (originally as advocated and practiced by the French Confédération Générale du Travail) which aims to abolish the present political and social system by means of the general strike (as distinguished from the local or sectional strike) and direct action of whatever kind (as distinguished from action which takes effect only through the medium of political action) -- direct action including any kind of action that is directly effective, whether it be a simple strike, a peaceful public demonstration, sabotage, or revolutionary violence. By the general strike and direct action syndicalism aims to establish a social system in which the means and processes of production are in the control of local organizations of workers, who are manage them for the common good. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. One who advocates or practices syndicalism. -- Syn`dic*al*is"tic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

v. t. [ LL. syndicatus, p. p. of syndicare to censure. ] To judge; to censure. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. syndicat, LL. syndicatus. ] 1. The office or jurisdiction of a syndic; a council, or body of syndics. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An association of persons officially authorized to undertake some duty or to negotiate some business; also, an association of persons who combine to carry out, on their own account, a financial or industrial project; as, a syndicate of bankers formed to take up and dispose of an entire issue of government bonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A more or less organized association of criminals controlling some aspects of criminal activity, in a specific area or country-wide; -- used loosely as a synonym for organized crime or the mafia. [ PJC ]

4. (Journalism) a commercial organization that purchases various journalistic items, such as articles, columns, or comic strips, from their individual creators, and resells them to newspapers or other periodicals for simultaneous publication over a wide area. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. syndicated p. pr. & vb. n. syndicating ] 1. To combine or form into, or manage as, a syndicate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To acquire or control for or by, or to subject to the management of, a syndicate; as, syndicated newspapers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. (Journalism) to purchase various journalistic items, such as articles, columns, or comic strips, from their individual creators, and resell them to numerous periodicals for simultaneous publication over a wide area; a syndicated columnist. [ PJC ]

v. i. To unite to form a syndicate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Act or process of syndicating or forming a syndicate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]