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I'm trying to form a sentence along the following lines:

"the difference between sequence and synchronicity is important when it comes to understanding..."

I'm unsure of the proper use of the word "sequence" in this sentence. I'm comparing it to "synchronicity" and immediately thought that the word "sequence", would become "sequenicity". But the dictionary tells me different, "sequacity". I'm not debating that it isn't the correct word, as the word "sequenicity" doesn't exist, it's just not what I expected.

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  • It's derived from a Latin adjective, sequax ("following") dictionary.reference.com/browse/sequacity – Andrew Leach♦ Jul 19 '12 at 13:27
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    What meaning are you looking for? Does it have something to do with 'being in a sequence'. If so then almost all the words you've mentioned are not relevant (in addition to being pretty rare). – Mitch Jul 19 '12 at 15:07
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sequacity and sequacious, meaning obsequiousness/servile following of others/thoughtless, uncritical acceptance is somewhat archaic.

sequenicity is ... to put it bluntly 'not a word' (meaning it is not really accepted, not in any dictionary, prescriptive, descriptive or otherwise) and is actually not used by anybody. It looks like a neologism or a malformed attempt at making a regular extension of sequence.

If the latter, then the appropriate extension of sequence to an adjective would be

sequential

and from that to a noun for the concept would be

sequentiality

Because this started from sequence, all the derivations use 'e' instead of 'a'.

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  • So if I were to write a sentence "the difference between sequentiality and synchronicity is important when it comes to understanding..." - which would be the correct word to use? Sequentiality I presume? – StuR Jul 19 '12 at 15:24
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    You should definitely use sequentiality. Looking in old dictionaries in Google books, in the mid-19th century, when it was used the most, sequacity meant lack of originality or pliancy. It has since fallen out of use, but I don't believe the meaning has shifted. – Peter Shor Jul 19 '12 at 15:28
  • Great, thanks. I've marked this as the accepted answer as it it helped me to understand the differences a bit better. – StuR Jul 19 '12 at 15:43
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Sequacity does not proceed from sequence directly. It comes from Sequacious. Both have roots in the same Latin word.

Sequacious: following with smooth or logical regularity.

Therefore, a sequence is sequacious.

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