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elision
noun
eli·sion
i-Ë?li-zhÉ™n
1
a
: the use of a speech form that lacks a final or initial sound which a variant speech form has (such as 's instead of is in there's)
b
: the omission of an unstressed vowel or syllable in a verse to achieve a uniform metrical pattern
2
: the act or an instance of omitting something : omission
Examples of elision in a Sentence
unfortunately, when the book was condensed, some of the elisions rendered major plot developments incomprehensible
Recent Examples on the Web
Gale’s interdisciplinary practice choreographs the elision of sculpture, sound, film, light, and photography, resulting in uneasy and often uncanny experiences.
—
Ellen Y. Tani, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024
But a lot of those gaps were actually intentional elisions, the result of Leone's broader stylistic conviction against didactic storytelling.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Such elisions may be understandable, but the hearings are over.
—
Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
These two work by means of elision and ellipsis, unfolding in sections separated by roughly 20 years.
—
Charles McGrath, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
Late Latin elision-, elisio, from Latin elidere
First Known Use
circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near elision
Cite this Entry
“Elision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elision. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
More from Merriam-Webster on elision
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elision
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