aph·e·sis  (āf'ĭ-sĭs)  n. pl. aph·e·ses (-sēz') The loss of an initial, usually unstressed vowel, as in cute from acute. [Greek, a release, from aphīenai, aphe-, to let go : apo-, apo- + hīenai, to send; see diesis.] a·phet'ic (ə-fět'ĭk) adj., a·phet'i·cal·ly adv. |