Main Entry: syn·co·pe

Pronunciation: \ˈsiŋ-kə-(ˌ)pē, ˈsin-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek synkopē, literally, cutting short, from synkoptein to cut short, from syn- + koptein to cut — more at capon

Date: circa 1550

1 : loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain : faint
2 : the loss of one or more sounds or letters in the interior of a word (as in fo'c'sle for forecastle)

— syn·co·pal \-kə-pəl\ adjective