Syndic

The Syndics of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt, 1662
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"Syndic" (Late Latin: syndicus; Greek: σύνδικος, sýndikos – one who helps in a court of justice, an advocate, representative) is a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.[1]

The meaning which underlies both applications is that of representative or delegate. Du Cange, after defining the word as defensor, patronus, advocatus, proceeds: Syndici maxime appellantur Actores universitatum, collegiorum, societatum et aliorum corporum, per quos, tanquam in republica quod communiter agi fierive oportet, agitur et fit ("Syndics are chiefly called the actors of universities, colleges, societies, and other bodies, through whom, as in a republic, what must be pursued and done in common, is pursued and done"), and gives several examples from the 13th century of the use of the term.[2] The most familiar use of syndic in the first sense is that of the Italian sindaco and the French syndic who is the head of the administration of a comune, comparable to a mayor, and a government official, elected by the residents of the commune.[1]

  1. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Syndic". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 293.
  2. ^ Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange: Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae Latinitatis (Glossary of writers in medieval and late Latin, Paris, 1678, s.v. Syndicus.