aphesis

noun /ˈæ.fə.sɪs/

1. The loss of the initial unstressed vowel of a word.

   countable, uncountable

   The word "scarp" is derived from "escarp" by aphesis.

Where it comes from

Attested since 1880. Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἄφεσις (áphesis, “letting go”), from ἀφίημι (aphíēmi), from ἀπο- (apo-, “off”) + ἵημι (híēmi, “send forth”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry aphesis (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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