Elide
/ɪˈlaɪd/noun
To omit, suppress, or leave out part of something, especially in speech or writing.
Did you know?Elide entered English through French and ultimately Latin, and in linguistics it became the technical term for deliberately dropping sounds — like language performing its own little spell of disappearance.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
elidere
“to strike out, thrust out, drive away”
Late Latin
Latin
elisionem
“a striking out; omission”
Old French
Old French
elider
“to elide, omit”
16th Century
English
elide
“to omit or suppress in speech or writing”
Modern English
English
elide
“to leave out or slur over, especially in pronunciation or argument”
Explore more surprising origins