Syndicate

A syndicate is an association of people or companies. In the original French language this word is mostly used for trade unionss, but in common vocabulary it has extended to encompass also trusts, rings, cartels and other (spontaneous) business associations as well as crime syndicates which are criminal groups running common businesses.

The word comes from the French word syndicat which means administrator especially in matters regarding a certain geographical area, from the latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος (syndikos) which means caretaker of an issue, compare to ombudsman or representative.