diff --git a/doc/lispref/syntax.texi b/doc/lispref/syntax.texi
index af24b996c0a..19782d0fbde 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/syntax.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/syntax.texi
@@ -787,17 +787,6 @@ used on hooks such as @code{before-change-functions} (@pxref{Change
 Hooks}).
 @end defun
 
-  Major modes can make @code{syntax-ppss} run faster by specifying
-where it needs to start parsing.
-
-@defvar syntax-begin-function
-If this is non-@code{nil}, it should be a function that moves to an
-earlier buffer position where the parser state is equivalent to
-@code{nil}---in other words, a position outside of any comment,
-string, or parenthesis.  @code{syntax-ppss} uses it to further
-optimize its computations, when the cache gives no help.
-@end defvar
-
 @node Parser State
 @subsection Parser State
 @cindex parser state
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 5feaa786083..f5f3d86d98e 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -1171,6 +1171,7 @@ arguments.  The earlier behavior of silently supplying a nil to the
 last variable when there was an odd number of arguments has been
 eliminated.
 
++++
 ** `syntax-begin-function' is declared obsolete.
 Removed font-lock-beginning-of-syntax-function and the SYNTAX-BEGIN
 slot in font-lock-defaults.