apheresis

A*pher"e*sis, n. Etym: [L. aphaeresis, Gr. 1. (Gram.) Defn: The dropping of a letter or syllable from the beginning of a word; e. g., cute for acute. 2. (Surg.) Defn: An operation by which any part is separated from the rest. [Obs.] Dunglison.

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