n. Loss of the voice resulting from disease, injury to the vocal cords, or various psychological causes, such as hysteria. [New Latin aphōnia, from Greek aphōniā, speechlessness, from aphōnos, voiceless : a-, without; see A-1 + phōnē, voice; see bhā-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] a·phonic (ā-fŏnĭk, ā-fōnĭk) adj. |
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