apheresis Hear it!

apheresis definition

apher·esis or aphaeresis aphaer′·esis (ə fer′ə sis)

noun

the dropping of a letter, syllable, or phoneme at the beginning of a word (Ex.: 'cause for because)

Etymology: LL aphaeresis < Gr aphairesis < aphairein, to take away < apo-, away + hairein, to take

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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