Dictionary entry

Synæresis

Webster's Dictionary 1913

{ Syn‐ær″e‐sis, Syn‐er″e‐sis } (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � a taking or drawing together, fr. � to take together; σύν with + � to take, to grasp. See Syn-, and Heresy.] (Gram.) The union, or drawing together into one syllable, of two vowels that are ordinarily separated in syllabification; synecphonesis; — the opposite of diæresis.