Aphesis

[æfisis]

Definition

(noun.) the gradual disappearance of an initial (usually unstressed) vowel or syllable as in `squire' for `esquire'.

Edited by Francine--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) The loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word; -- the result of a phonetic process; as, squire for esquire.

Checker: Selma

Definition

n. the gradual loss of an unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word as in squire = esquire—a special form of Aph鎟esis.—adj. Aphet′ic.

Typist: Tabitha