aphesis

American  

[af-uh-sis] / ˈæf ə sɪs /

noun

Historical Linguistics.

1. the disappearance or loss of an unstressed initial vowel or syllable, as in the formation of the word slant from aslant.

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aphesis British  

/ əˈfɛtɪk, ˈæfɪsɪs /

noun

1. the gradual disappearance of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word, as in squire from esquire

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aphetically
  adverb
• aphetic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aphesis

1880; < Greek áphesis a letting go, equivalent to aphe- (variant stem of aphiénai to let go, set free; ap- ap- ² + hiénai to send) + -sis -sis