noun
or apher·e·sis əˈferəsə̇s, aˈ-, -fir-
( plural aphaere·ses or aphere·ses -əˌsēz)
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek aphairesis, literally, taking off, from aphairein to take away (from apo- + hairein to take) + -sis — more at heresy
1. : the loss of one or more sounds or letters at the beginning of a word (as in round for around, coon for raccoon, baby talk 'top for stop ) — compare aphesis 1, apocope , syncope 2a
2. : the omission of one or more syllables at the beginning of a member or verse — used especially in ref. to Greek and Latin prosody; compare prosthesis