synalepha

Variant of synaloepha

synaloepha definition

syna·loe·pha or synalepha syn′a·le′·pha (sin′ə lē′fə)

noun

the contraction into one syllable of two adjacent vowels, usually by elision (Ex.: th' eagle for the eagle)

Etymology: L synaloepha < Gr synaloiphē, lit., a melting together < syn-, together + aleiphein, to smear, anoint, akin to lipos, fat: see lipo-

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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