synaloepha

(sin′ə lē)

or synalepha

noun

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

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

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