† ăphaerĕsis, is, f., = ἀφαίρεσις, a gram. fig., the dropping of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word (e. g. ruere for eruere, temnere for contemnere, etc.), Prob. p. 1438 P.; Don. p. 1772 ib.; Charis. p. 248 ib.; Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 546; 1, 669 al.