\A*pher"e*sis\ (?; 277), n. [L. aphaeresis, Gr. ?, fr. ? to take away; ? + ? to take.] 1. (Gram.) The dropping of a letter or syllable from the beginning of a word; e. g., cute for acute. 2. (Surg.) An operation by which any part is separated from the rest. [Obs.] --Dunglison.