ə̇ˈlizhən, ēˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin elision-, elisio, from Latin elisus (past participle of elidere to elide) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at elide
1. : the use of a speech form that lacks a final or initial sound that a variant speech form has (as the use of l' and not le in French l'été or the use of 's instead of is in English there's ) ; specifically : the deliberate syllable-reducing suppression or consonantalization of a final proclitic vowel in poetry for the sake of the meter (as in th(y)əˈpresivˈchānz for the (or th' ) oppressive chains or in t(w)əˈmēlyəˈzīz for to (or t' ) Amelia's eyes )
2. : the act or an instance of dropping out or omitting something : omission , cut
elision of false scenery, explanatory essays, useless subplots — V.S.Pritchett
makes a few elisions in the ballet … but preserves all the solos — Arthur Knight