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synaloepha

noun
syn·​a·​loe·​pha
variants: or synalepha \ ˌsinəˈlēfə \
plural -s

Definition of synaloepha

: 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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History and Etymology for 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

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