synalepha Meaning, Definition & Usage

Syn`a*le"pha noun

Etymology

NL., fr. L. synaloepha, Gr. , from to melt together; with + to besmear.

Definitions

1. (Gram.) A contraction of syllables by suppressing some vowel or diphthong at the end of a word, before another vowel or diphthong; as, th' army, for the army. Written also synaloepha.