'elide' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ēlīdēre' (or 'ēlīdere'), where 'ē-' (from ex-) meant 'out' and 'līdĕre' (to strike, beat, or rub) conveyed the sense of striking out.

'elide' changed from Latin 'ēlīdō/ēlīdĕre' into Late Latin and then entered English (via scholarly/learned usage) in the 17th century as 'elide.'

Initially it carried the literal sense 'to strike out' (remove by striking), but over time it evolved into the current meaning 'to omit or run together (speech), to leave out or slur over.'