elision
UK[ɪˈlɪʒ.ən]US[ɪˈlɪʒ.ən]
n
The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking, as in "I'm" for "I am" or "let's" for "let us".
n
The omission of a passage in a book or speech.
Morpheme Breakdown
e
lis
ion
e
out
lis
strike
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'elision' originates from the Latin verb 'elidere', meaning "to strike out". This verb itself is a compound of 'e-' (out) and 'laedere' (to strike). The core concept is one of forceful removal or omission. In Latin rhetoric, the term described the dropping of a vowel or syllable, as if it were struck out of the word. Over time, this specific grammatical and literary sense was retained in English, preserving the original logic of a sound or element being actively removed from a sequence.
Analysis
Structure: e (out) + lis (strike) + ion (noun suffix)
e: A Latin prefix meaning "out" or "away", derived from the Latin preposition "ex".
lis: A Latin root meaning "to strike" or "to dash", from the verb "laedere".
ion: A Latin suffix used to form nouns indicating an action or process, or the result of an action.
Examples
The poet's frequent use of elision gives the verse a smooth, flowing rhythm.
In casual speech, elision is common, such as saying "gonna" instead of "going to".
The editor suggested an elision of the redundant paragraph to tighten the argument.