GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found one definition

  1.       
    
    Ellipsis , n.; pl. Ellipses . [L., fr. Gr. ἔλλειψις a leaving, defect, fr. ἐλλείπειν to leave in, fall short; ἐν in + λείπειν to leave. See In, and Loan, and cf. Ellipse.]
    1. (Gram.) Omission; a figure of syntax, by which one or more words, which are obviously understood, are omitted; as, the virtues I admire, for, the virtues which I admire.
      1913 Webster
    2. (Geom.) An ellipse. [Obs.]
      1913 Webster
    3. (Printing) a printing symbol, usually three periods in a row (. . .), indicating the omission of some part of a text; -- used commonly in quotations, so as to suppress words not essential to the meaning. A long dash (---) and three asterisks (* * *) are sometimes used with the same meaning.
      PJC

Last match results