Syncope is a noun that refers to the temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure. 

Our word of the day comes almost directly from a Greek word that means ‘strike’ or ‘cut off.’ By the Late Middle English period, syncope had been adopted into English. Here’s an example:

Having a significant drop in blood pressure may not seem like a huge problem. But frankly, it would terrify me to experience the syncope that often comes with it. I can’t imagine anything scarier than losing consciousness.