synaloepha

noun syn·a·loe·pha

variants: or synalepha \ˌsinəˈlēfə\

Definition of synaloepha

plural -s

: the blending into one syllable of two vowels of adjacent syllables (as by crasis, synaeresis, synizesis, elision); especially : a contraction of syllables by obscuring or suppressing a vowel or diphthong at the end of a word before another vowel or diphtong (as in th' army, for the army)

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Origin and Etymology of synaloepha

New Latin, from Greek synaloiphē, synaliphē, from synaleiphein to clog up, coalesce, unite two syllables into one, from syn- + aleiphein to anoint, besmear; akin to Greek lipos fat