* "syn": meaning "together" or "with"
* "taxis": meaning "arrangement" or "order"
Therefore, the literal meaning of "syntax" is "arranging together" or "putting together in order".
How it came to mean "grammar":
The original application of "syntax" was in ancient Greece, where it referred to the arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence. It was used in rhetoric and grammar to describe how words were put together to form meaning. Over time, the term became more specifically associated with grammar, focusing on the rules that govern how words are arranged in a sentence.
Influence on modern usage:
This original meaning has extended to encompass the arrangement of elements in various systems, including:
* Computer programming: Syntax refers to the rules governing how code is written.
* Music: Syntax can describe the arrangement of notes and chords.
* Art: Some artistic movements emphasize the arrangement of elements in a composition.
So, the word "syntax" has evolved from its original Greek meaning of "arranging together" to encompass a broad range of systems where elements are put together according to specific rules.