aphesis

(af′ə sis)

noun

loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word, a form of apheresis (Ex.: squire for esquire)

Origin: ModL < Gr, a letting go < apo- from + hienai, to send: see jet

Related Forms:

See aphesis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. aph·e·ses (-sēzˌ)

The loss of an initial, usually unstressed vowel, as in cute from acute.

Origin:

Origin: Greek, a release

Origin: , from aphīenai, aphe-, to let go

Origin: : apo-, apo-

Origin: + hīenai, to send; see diesis

Related Forms:

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