ellipses

1 definition found

ellipses - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Ellipsis \El*lip"sis\ ([e^]l*l[i^]p"s[i^]s), n.; pl. Ellipses
     ([e^]l*l[i^]p"s[=e]z). [L., fr. Gr. 'e`lleipsis a leaving,
     defect, fr. 'ellei`pein to leave in, fall short; 'en in +
     lei`pein 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]