A form of wordplay in which a letter is removed from a word or phrase, resulting in another word or phrase.
For example, tear -> tar.

A deletion can be extended by additional steps, as in bereft, beret, beet, bet.

A deletion at the beginning of a word has the special name beheadment, and a deletion at the end of a word is likewise called a curtailment.

De*le"tion (?), n. [L. deletio, fr. delere. See Delete.]

Act of deleting, blotting out, or erasing; destruction.

[Obs.]

Jer. Taylor.

A total deletion of every person of the opposing party. Sir M. Hale.

 

© Webster 1913.

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