Elide: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'elidere,' meaning 'to strike out or remove.'
• In the late 16th century, it entered English, primarily relating to speech and writing.
• Similar words like 'decimate' and 'eradicate' also have roots in Latin, all implying a sense of removal or loss.

Linguistics

• Elision often occurs in fast speech, where speakers drop syllables for ease, like saying 'gonna' instead of 'going to.'
• In poetry, it can enhance rhythm and meter by creating smoother lines.
• Different languages exhibit elision differently, influencing accents and dialects.

Literature

• Authors often employ elision to reflect natural speech patterns of characters, making them more relatable.
• Elided phrases can create intrigue or a sense of urgency in narrative writing.
• Famous playwrights, like Shakespeare, used elision in their works to fit poetic forms and maintain flow.

Pop Culture

• Popular songs frequently use elision to make lyrics catchier or easier to sing.
• In movie dialogue, characters often elide words to reflect a quick, informal conversation style.
• Social media language has popularized even more elided speech forms, as users create shorthand versions of words.

Psychology

• Eliding words can impact listeners’ understanding, as they may fill gaps based on context or prior knowledge.
• Cognitive processing is involved when we hear elided speech; our brains automatically interpret missing sounds.
• Research shows that familiar phrases tend to be more prone to elision, as our minds recognize them easily.

Ranking #36,710, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 36707 foaling
• 36708 megalomaniac
• 36709 fontanel
• 36710 elide
• 36711 hardtack
• 36712 cellulite
• 36713 reoccur
• ...