SYNDIC comes from the Greek " syndicoe" (rthsbecor). The Greek word Syndicos originally signified one who aided another in a matter before a court of justice, and hence it came to signify generally an advocate, one who maintained another's cause before a court of justice. Syndicos also signified at Athens one who was appointed by the state to attend to its interests in any matter in dispute between Athens and another state : thus iEschines was elected their Syndieos by the Athenians in a matter relating to the temple at Delos. (Demosthen. lisp) Y.Topcisou, c. 42.) There were also functionaries at Athens called Syndiei, who were appointed, after the establishment of the tyranny of the Thirty, to decide on cases of confiscated property. The word Syndicue passed into the Latin language. It often occurs in the Digest' in the sense of an attorney or agent for a university or corpo rate body : in this sense it is used as synonymous with Actor by Gains. (' Dig.' 3, tit. 4, s. 1.) In the middle ages also the word Syndicus was in common use, and was frequently given to the agent or factor appointed by corporate bodies, to manage their common affairs, and especially to represent them in courts of law. Crevier, in various places, designates the syndic of the university, or of the faculty of arts, by the equivalent names of procureur, agent, greffier 230; iv. 309 ; v. 459). In the same sense most of the other corporate bodies in Paris and other French towns used to have their syndics; and the syndic was also the usual name for the solicitor to the community, or town-clerk, in the towns of Languedoc and Provence. The clergy, in
like manner, had their Syndics G6nemux, Syndics Diocesains, and Syndics Provinciaux ; and Syndics, or agents resident at Paris, were also appointed by most of the religious orders. The functions of the different syndics however varied considerably ; some were mere agents or solicitors, others were representatives of their corporations in a higher sense, sometimes acting as their presidents, and deciding causes, instead of merely conducting them. The four chief magistrates of the city of Geneva used to be called Syndics. Among the Burdegalenses (or people of the district of which Bordeaux is the capital), the office of Syndie, supposed to have meant originally the defender of a military post, became in course of time an hereditary title of nobility; of which several instances occur in Froissart, and other chroniclers of the 14th century. In more recent times, when Louis XIV., in 1701, directed the establishment of chambers of commerce in the principal towns of France, the merchants and other persons composing them were ap pointed to be called Syndics du Commerce, or Syndics de la Chambro de Commerce. For the signifimtions of the various old words derived from or connected with Syndicus, the reader is referred to Ducange, ' Gloss. M. et I. L.,' vi. 928.931; and Supplein.,' iii. 932. We shall merely mention that the French have the verb " syndiquer," for to judge or censure, as we formerly said " to syndicate" in the same sense.