In linguistics, the loss or dropping of a sound or syllable from the beginning of a word; in medicine, a procedure of extracting certain blood components.
From Greek 'aphairesis' (a taking away), from 'apo-' (away from) + 'hairesis' (taking). The linguistic sense appeared first; the medical procedure sense emerged much later.
Aphaeresis shows how one word can split into completely different meanings—linguists use it to explain how 'apron' came from 'napron,' but doctors use it for blood-filtering—same root, wildly different applications.
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