Gram. Also syneresis. [late L. synæresis, a. Gr. συναίρεσις a taking or drawing together, contraction, f. σύν SYN- + αἱρεῖν to take.] Contraction, esp. of two vowels into a diphthong or a simple vowel.
1577. Peacham, Gard. Eloquence, E iij. Synæresis, when of two sillables in measuring, there is made but one, as when of this word vertuous, which hath .3. Sillables, we pronounce it with two, thus vertues, and likewyse righteous.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, II. xiv. [xv.] (Arb.), 139. Contracting a sillable by vertue of the figure Syneresis.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 176. Synæresis … is a contraction of two words or syllables into one.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 470, ¶ 5. Observing that Synæresis which had been neglected by ignorant Transcribers.
1878. G. Conway, Versif., 89. Syllables which by reason of elision, or synæresis, or slurring,… have … no effect on the metre.
