Symmachy is a rare word for an alliance formed to fight a common enemy, especially in a political or military sense. Its parts go back to Greek elements meaning “together” and “fight,” the same combative family behind logomachy, a verbal argument, and sciamachy, literally shadowboxing. The enemy needn’t be an army: a neighborhood symmachy against river pollution or beach trash would fit the spirit of the word. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of ““Logomachy” Argues, “Sciamachy” Shadowboxes, and “Symmachy” Joins Forces”
Here’s a rare word that I think is worth reviving. It’s simarchy, s-y-m-m-a-c-h-y, simarchy. So does that first part have something to do with symmetry? It has to do with togetherness for sure.
Togetherness, okay.
And to make something together, does that last part have something to do with maki making?
I don’t know.
It has to do with fighting because in ancient Greek, maki is to fight. And so a lagamaki, for example, is a verbal argument.
Oh, right.
Of course.
Yeah.
Simiki is based on a word that the ancient Greeks had for an alliance in war. And it’s not used that often. When it is used, it’s used in a political sense of, you know, countries having a simarchy. You know, they have an alliance to fight against something else.
But I think it could be used more generally. You know, why not have a simarchy with other people, an alliance against a common enemy?
Oh, so you could have an alliance, say, against pollution from a factory down the river or an alliance against trash along the beach or something like that.
Yeah, anything that’s threatening your well-being.
Very good.
Semachy.
I like the S-Y-M-M-A-C-H-Y.
Mm—
Mm—
Very good.
And another word in this family of fighting words is skyomachy, which comes from the Greek word for shadow. So skyomachy is shadowboxing.
Oh, I love the sound of that. That one’s just fun to say.
Right?
Skyomachy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
