[ 'afɪsɪs ]
■ noun Linguistics the gradual loss of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word (e.g. of e from esquire to form squire ).
Derivatives
aphetic ə'fɛtɪk adjective
aphetically adverb
Origin
C19: from Gk, lit. 'letting go', from apo 'from' + hienai 'let go, send'.