Syn"co*pe (?), n. [L. syncope,
syncopa, Gr. ? a cutting up, a syncope; akin to ? to beat
together, to cut up, cut short, weavy; sy`n with + ? to
strike, cut.] 1. (Gram.) An elision or
retrenchment of one or more letters or syllables from the middle of a
word; as, ne'er for never, ev'ry for
every.
2. (Mus.) Same as
Syncopation.
3. (Med.) A fainting, or swooning. See
Fainting.
4. A pause or cessation; suspension.
[R.]
Revely, and dance, and show,
Suffer a syncope and solemn pause.
Cowper.