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

To scanning there belong the figures called Synalœpha, Ecthlipsis, Synæresis, Diæresis, and Cæsura.

From Project Gutenberg

Ecthlipsis is as often as the letter m is cut off with its vowel; the next word beginning with a vowel, as Mōnstrum hōrrēndum īnfōrme īngēns—spectāvĭmŭs hōrtīs: We saw a horrible, ugly, great monster in the gardens.

From Project Gutenberg