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aphetic

[ uh-fet-ik ]
/ əˈfɛt ɪk /
|

adjective

pertaining to or due to aphesis.

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Nearby words

apheliotropism, aphemia, apheresis, apheretic, aphesis, aphetic, aphid, aphid lion, aphides, aphidian, aphis

Origin of aphetic

1875–80; < Greek áphet(os) freed, discharged (aphe- (see aphesis) + -tos past participle suffix) + -ic
Related formsa·phet·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·a·phet·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aphetic

  • For limner we find in the 15th century lumner and luminour, which is aphetic for alluminour, or enlumineur.

    The Romance of Words (4th ed.)|Ernest Weekley

  • The name Turney, well known in Nottingham, is from the town of Tournay, or is aphetic for attorney.

    The Romance of Words (4th ed.)|Ernest Weekley

Word Origin and History for aphetic

aphetic

adj.

1880, from aphesis (1880), coined by OED editor Sir James A.H. Murray (1837-1915) for "gradual and unintentional loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word" (as squire from esquire), from Greek aphienai "to let go, to send forth," from apo- "from" (see apo-) + hienai "to send" (see jet (v.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper