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

Derived Forms

• aphetic, adjective
• aˈphetically, adverb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphesis¹

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

Example Sentences

Many names beginning with n are due to aphesis, e.g.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

When the saint's name begins with a consonant, we get, instead of aphesis, a telescoped pronunciation, e.g.

From Project Gutenberg