Added 9 October 2026
aphesis
/ˈæ.fə.sɪs/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about aphesis at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The gradual disappearance of an initial (usually unstressed) vowel or syllable as in `squire' for `esquire'.
Origin
Attested since 1880. Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἄφεσις (áphesis, “letting go”), from ἀφίημι (aphíēmi), from ἀπο- (apo-, “off”) + ἵημι (híēmi, “send forth”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)