aphaeresis

aphaer·e·sis

noun \ə-ˈfer-ə-səs\

plural aphaer·e·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of APHAERESIS

: the loss of one or more sounds or letters at the beginning of a word (as in round for around and coon for raccoon)

— aph·ae·ret·ic \ˌa-fə-ˈre-tik\ adjective

Origin of APHAERESIS

Late Latin, from Greek aphairesis, literally, taking off, from aphairein to take away, from apo- + hairein to take

First Known Use: circa 1550