synaeresis

/sɪˈnɪəɹɪsɪs/

synaeresis

English Noun

Definition

The contraction of two vowels into a diphthong or a long vowel.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek συναίρεσις (sunaíresis, “unification”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + αἵρεσις (haíresis, “taking”), from αἱρέω (hairéō, “I take”).