Elision

Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

English (IPA): /ɪˈlɪʒən/ or /ɪˈlɪʃən/

Definitions

• The omission of a sound or syllable in speech.
• The omission of a passage in a written or spoken text.
• A linguistic phenomenon where certain sounds are omitted for ease of pronunciation.

Usage Examples

• "The elision of sounds in rapid speech often makes understanding difficult."
• "Poets often use elision to maintain meter in their verses."
• "The document contained several elisions for brevity."

Etymology

From Latin elisionem (nominative elisio), meaning "a striking out, a breaking off," from elidere, meaning "to strike out or suppress."

Synonyms

• Omission
• Contraction
• Deletion
• Reduction

Antonyms

• Insertion
• Addition
• Expansion

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /ɪˈlɪʒən/
• American English: /ɪˈlɪʃən/
• French: /e.li.zjɔ̃/
• Spanish: /eliˈsjon/

Historical Usage

The concept of elision has been present in languages for centuries, particularly in poetry and rhetoric, where it is used to maintain rhythm and meter. Classical Latin and Greek texts employed elision extensively.

Cultural Nuances

Elision is common in spoken language, where sounds are often dropped for ease of pronunciation. In French, for example, it is a grammatical rule, while in English, it often occurs informally in speech.

More Information

Elision plays a key role in phonetics and linguistic evolution, shaping the way languages change over time. It is also crucial in musical lyrics, poetry, and everyday speech.