sincope

syncope

noun SEEN-koh-peh Rare

Origin: Greek synkopē (a cutting short), from syn- (together) + koptein (to cut)

Also means

fainting

Usage Note

Sincope has two specialised senses: in medicine it means a fainting episode caused by sudden loss of blood flow to the brain (distinct from svenimento, a more general faint); in linguistics and music it refers to syncope — the dropping of a middle sound in a word or an off-beat rhythmic accent. Stress falls on the first syllable, making it a proparoxytone: SIN-co-pe.

Examples

"Il paziente ha avuto una sincope improvvisa."

Natural Translation

The patient had a sudden fainting spell.

Literal Translation

The patient has had a syncope sudden.

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