σύμφυσις

σύμφῠσις, εως, ἡ, (συμφύω)

• growing together, natural junction, esp. of the bones, Hp. Fract. 37, cf. Art. 34; opp. ἁφή, as being not mere contact, but continuity of substance, Arist. Metaph. 1014b22, cf. 1069a12, Ph. 227a23; σ. ὀστῶν Id. HA 518b8; so of bones united, κατὰ σύμφυσιν, opp. articulation (κατʼ ἄρθρον), Gal. 2.734, PLit.Lond. 167.19 (ii/iii A.D.); of attachment of muscles to bones, Gal. 2.445,484; ἡ σ. τοῦ δέρματος καὶ τῆς σαρκός Pl. Ti. 77d, cf. Arist. HA 547a16, PA 693b25; ἡ πρὸς τὴν μήτραν σ. [τοῦ χορίου] Sor. 1.73; closing or healing up of an injured tree, Thphr. HP 9.2.6; ἡ σ. καὶ ἡ τάξις structure and arrangement of a physical body, Id. Sens. 79, cf. Lap. 11; ἔντερον συμφύσεις ἔχον, of intestines divided into chambers by constriction, Arist. HA 507b35; ἡ σ. τοῦ πνεύμονος κατὰ ῥάχιν Aret. SD 1.9; of the tongue, ib. 7.
• • • 2 metaph. of the mysticʼs union with the Supreme Being, Porph. Abst. 1.29.