a·phaer·e·sis or a·pher·e·sis  (ə-fěr'ĭ-sĭs)  n. pl. a·phaer·e·ses or a·pher·e·ses (-sēz') The loss of one or more sounds from the beginning of a word, as in till for until. [Late Latin, from Greek aphairesis, from aphairein, to take away : apo-, apo- + hairein, to take.] aph'ae·ret'ic (āf'ə-rět'ĭk) adj. |