aphærisis, apherisis

[In Fr. aphérèse; Sp. a feres is; Port, apheresis; Lat. aphæres is; Gr. ἀφαίρεσις ( aphairesis ), from ἀφαιρέω ( aphaired ) = to take away: ἀπό (apo) from, and αἱρέω (harres) = to take away.] Gram.: A figure which drops a letter or syllable at the commencement of a word, as ' tis , for it is ; 'gan, for began . (Glo og. Nova .)