APHERESIS

PRONUNCIATION:
(for 1: uh-FER-i-sis, for 2: af-uh-REE-sis)

MEANING:
noun:
1. The loss of one or more sounds or letters from the beginning of a word. For example, the change in pronunciation of knife from (k-nyf) to (nyf) or the formation of till from until.
2. A method in which blood is drawn from a donor, one or more blood components (such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells) are removed, and the rest is returned to the donor by transfusion.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin aphaeresis, from Greek aphairesis (taking away), from aphairein (to take away), from apo- (away) + hairein (to take). Earliest documented use: 1550.


[My favorite example of this is "eleëmosynary" --> --> alms]
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APTERESIS - The process of being turned into a wingless bird with hairy feathers, and then returned to the zoo (or at least to the B.C. comic strip)

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(too obvious? )