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aphesis

Syllabification: (aph·e·sis)
Pronunciation: /ˈafisis/
Definition of aphesis

noun

Linguistics
  • the loss of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word (e.g., of a from around to form round).

Derivatives

aphetic

Pronunciation: /əˈfetik/
adjective

aphetically

Pronunciation: /əˈfetik(ə)lē/
adverb

Origin:

late 19th century: from Greek, literally 'letting go', from apo 'from' + hienai 'let go, send'

aphesis in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of aphesis in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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