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aphesis

[ af-uh-sis ]

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.


aphesis

/ əˈfɛtɪk; ˈæfɪsɪs /

noun

  1. the gradual disappearance of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word, as in squire from esquire
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • aphetic, adjective
  • aˈphetically, adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aphesis1

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of aphesis1

C19: from Greek, from aphienai to set free, send away
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Example Sentences

This English tendency to aphesis is satirised in a French song of the 14th century, intentionally written in bad French.

Aphesis is the loss of the unaccented first syllable, as in 'baccy and 'later.

But confusion with the article is not necessary in order to bring about aphesis.

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