aphesis 
aphesis definition
aph·esis (af′ə sis)
noun
loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word, a form of apheresis (Ex.: squire for esquire)
Etymology: ModL < Gr, a letting go < apo- from + hienai, to send: see jet
Related Forms:
- aphetic aphet′·ic (ə fet′ik) adjective
- aphetically aphet′i·cally adverb
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