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ellipsis

 - 5 dictionary results

el⋅lip⋅sis

  [i-lip-sis]
–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
1. Grammar.
a. the omission from a sentence or other construction of one or more words that would complete or clarify the construction, as the omission of who are, while I am, or while we are from I like to interview people sitting down.
b. the omission of one or more items from a construction in order to avoid repeating the identical or equivalent items that are in a preceding or following construction, as the omission of been to Paris from the second clause of I've been to Paris, but they haven't.
2. Printing. a mark or marks as ——, …, or * * *, to indicate an omission or suppression of letters or words.
Use ellipsis in a Sentence
Origin:
1560–70; < L ellīpsis < Gk élleipsis an omission, equiv. to el- (var. of en- en- 2 ) + leip- (s. of leípein to leave) + -sis -sis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ellipsis
el·lip·sis   (ĭ-lĭp'sĭs)   
n.   pl. el·lip·ses (-sēz)

    1. The omission of a word or phrase necessary for a complete syntactical construction but not necessary for understanding.

    2. An example of such omission.

  2. A mark or series of marks ( . . . or * * * , for example) used in writing or printing to indicate an omission, especially of letters or words.


[Latin ellīpsis, from Greek elleipsis, from elleipein, to fall short; see ellipse.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

ellipsis [(i-lip-sis)]

A punctuation mark (&ellipsis;) used most often within quotations to indicate that something has been left out. For example, if we leave out parts of the above definition, it can read: “A punctuation mark (&ellipsis;) used most often &ellipsis; to indicate&ellipsis4;”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ellipsis 
1570, from L. ellipsis, from Gk. elleipsis "a falling short, defect, ellipse," from elleipein "to fall short, leave out," from en- "in" + leipein "to leave" (see relinquish). Grammatical sense first recorded 1612.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

ellipsis

figure of speech characterized by the deliberate omission of a word or words that are, however, understood in light of the grammatical context. The device is exemplified in W.H. Auden's poem "This Lunar Beauty": But this was neverA ghost's endeavorNor finished this,Was ghost at ease;And till it passLove shall not nearThe sweetness hereNor sorrow takeHis endless look.

Learn more about ellipsis with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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