apheresis Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (linguistics) omission at the beginning of a word as in `coon' for `raccoon' or `till' for `until'
    aphaeresis.
  2. noun a procedure in which blood is drawn and separated into its components by dialysis; some are retained and the rest are returned to the donor by transfusion
    pheresis.

WordNet

A*pher"e*sis noun
Etymology
L. aphaeresis, Gr. , fr. to take away; + to take.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913