— syncopic /sin kop"ik/ , syncopal , adj.
/sing"keuh pee', sin"-/ , n.
1. Gram. the contraction of a word by omitting one or more sounds from the middle, as in the reduction of never to ne'er.
2. Pathol. brief loss of consciousness associated with transient cerebral anemia, as in heart block, sudden lowering of the blood pressure, etc.; fainting.
[ 1350-1400; ME syncope synkopé a cutting short, equiv. to syn- SYN- + kop- (s. of kóptein to cut) + -e fem. n. suffix ]