| elision |
| Definition - The omission of vowels, consonants, or syllables from a word or phrase so that it is easier to pronounce. Note: This is in contrast to ellipsis, which is the omission of words from a sentence. |
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Example - la - 'bor - a - tor - y becomes 'la - bra - tor - y |
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Etymology - The word derives from the Latin elidere, crush out (from ex, out + laedere, to strike). |
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Oxford English Dictionary - Its first citation is from 1581: "The Italian is so full of Vowels, that it must ever be cumbred with Elisions." (Sidney Apol. Poetrie (Arb.) 70) |
