Dictionary entry

Synalepha

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Syn′a‐le″pha (?), n. [NL., fr. L. synaloepha, Gr. �, from � to melt together; σύν with + � to besmear.] (Gram.) A contraction of syllables by suppressing some vowel or diphthong at the end of a word, before another vowel or diphthong; as, th' army, for the army. [Written also synalœpha.]