*crasis*

n. [ LL., temperament, fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, fr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; to mix. ] 1. (Med.) A mixture of constituents, as of the blood; constitution; temperament. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) A contraction of two vowels (as the final and initial vowels of united words) into one long vowel, or into a diphthong; synæresis; as, cogo for coago. [ 1913 Webster ]