Elision
/ɪˈlɪʒ.ən/noun
The omission of a sound, syllable, or word in speech or writing.
Did you know?Elision comes from Latin *ēlīdere*, literally “to strike out,” so the idea of omission was once framed as a kind of linguistic hitting or pushing out.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
ēlīdere
“to strike out, thrust out, drive away”
Late Latin
Latin
ēlīsiō
“a striking out or omission”
Old French
Old French
elision
“omission, suppression”
16th Century
English
elision
“the omission of a vowel or syllable in pronunciation”
Modern English
English
elision
“the omission of a sound, syllable, or word in speech or writing”