Obs. rare. Also 5 synkope. [a. OF. syncoper (14th c.), or ad. late L. syncopāre to SYNCOPATE.]
1. trans. a. To cut short, cut down, reduce. b. To syncopate or slur over (a word or syllable).
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 4727. And specialy þat he hir duetee Abrigge naght, ne naght syncope hir wages.
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 108. Þou hast seyd rechelesly þi seruyse in rape, in syncopyng, in ouyr-skyppyng, in omyttyng. Ibid., 115. Þe feend seyde: ‘J bere in my sacche sylablys & woordys, ouerskyppyd and synkopyd.’
2. Mus. a. intr. To be syncopated. b. trans. To syncopate.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. [with def. of ‘syncope’d’ note as = dotted note, taken from Dict. de Trévoux].
1752. trans. Rameau’s Treat. Musick, 62. The Bass must always syncope in that case. Ibid., 112. That Note is said to be syncoped, and is called a Driving-note.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus., s.v., In harmony, there are three syncopes: the first is when all the parts syncope at the same time.
