Elided

To 'elide' something means to omit or leave out a part of something, often a sound, syllable, or word, in speaking or writing. It can refer to the process of merging or blending things together, reducing something to a smaller form. The term emphasizes the intentional removal or contraction. This typically done for stylistic reasons or to improve flow or clarity, or efficiency, such as shortening a word or a sentence. When something is elided, it's understood that information is purposefully excluded or condensed, implying an awareness of the original form. The resulting elision thus reflects a conscious choice to modify or abbreviate the original.

Elided meaning with examples

• In poetry, the poet elided the 'e' in 'over' and 'o' in 'of', making it 'o'er' and 'ov' to maintain the rhythm and meter of the verse, creating a more lyrical sound. This change wasn't just about simplifying but creating beauty.
• The historian elided several paragraphs of the original document, leaving behind only the most vital details for a succinct summary of the key events. The act of summarization was to condense lengthy sentences, to make it easier to read.
• In casual conversation, the speaker elided the 'and' in 'fish and chips', resulting in 'fish'n'chips', reflecting a common speech pattern. The meaning remained, even though a syllable was lost.
• Due to storage constraints, the editor elided several scenes from the film. The film, though shorter, presented a clear flow and it served the intent to get it to a length fit for television.