Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
aphetic
adjective
/əˈfɛtɪk/
Definition
Relating to the loss of a sound at the beginning of a word.
Examples
- In the word ’round’ derived from ‘around’, the initial sound is aphetic.
- Aphetic forms can often be found in colloquial speech.
- Words like ’cause’ instead of ‘because’ illustrate aphetic examples.
Meaning
Aphetic refers to a linguistic phenomenon where the initial vowel or sound of a word is removed or dropped, often leading to a change in its spelling and pronunciation.
Synonyms
- Reduction
- Elision
- Truncation
