aphesis
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aph·e·sis
(ăf′ĭ-sĭs)n. pl. aph·e·ses (-sēz′)
The loss of an initial, usually unstressed vowel from a word, as in cute from acute.
[Greek, a release, from aphīenai, aphe-, to let go : apo-, apo- + hīenai, to send; see diesis.]
a·phet′ic (ə-fĕt′ĭk) adj.
a·phet′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
aphesis
(ˈæfɪsɪs)n
(Linguistics) the gradual disappearance of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word, as in squire from esquire
[C19: from Greek, from aphienai to set free, send away]
aphetic adj
aˈphetically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
aph•e•sis
(ˈæf ə sɪs)n.
the gradual disappearance or loss of an unstressed initial vowel or syllable.
[1880; < Greek áphesis release =aph(i)é(nai) to let go, set free (ap- ap-2 + hiénai to send) + -sis -sis]
a•phet•ic (əˈfɛt ɪk) adj.
a•phet′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. | aphesis - the gradual disappearance of an initial (usually unstressed) vowel or syllable as in `squire' for `esquire' |
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