ecthlipsis

[ ek-thlip-sis ]

noun

, plural ec·thlip·ses [ek-, thlip, -seez].

1. loss of a consonant, especially, in Latin, loss of a final m before a word beginning with a vowel or h.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecthlipsis¹

1650–60; < Late Latin < Greek ékthlīpsis, equivalent to ekthlī́b ( ein ) to squeeze out ( ek- ec- + thlī́bein, variant of phlī́bein to squeeze) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Ecthlipsis, ek-thlip′sis, n. omission or suppression of a letter.

From Project Gutenberg