syntopical

English

Etymology

Coined by Mortimer Adler in "How to Read a Book". Derived from the term Syntopicon®, a two-volume topical guide published as part of the Great Books of the Western World series.

Adjective

syntopical (not comparable)

1. Referring to a type of analysis in which different works are compared and contrasted.

   After finishing his syntopical reading of the leaders' speeches, he wrote an essay comparing the language used by Reagan, Carter, Gorbachev, and Qaddafi.

   • 1997: Dhun H. Sethna, Investing Smart

     (...) and it is their words and wisdom, accumulated over long periods of syntopical reading, that make up this text.

See also

• synoptic