Ellipsis Definition

Contents

• 1 English
  • 1.1 Etymology
  • 1.2 Pronunciation
  • 1.3 Noun
    • 1.3.1 Synonyms
    • 1.3.2 Translations
    • 1.3.3 See also
• 2 Latin
  • 2.1 Etymology
  • 2.2 Pronunciation
  • 2.3 Noun
    • 2.3.1 Inflection
    • 2.3.2 Descendants

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἔλλειψις (elleipsis, “omission”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɪˈlɪpsɪs/ SAMPA: /I"lIp.sIs/
• (US) IPA: /ɨˈlɪpsɨs/, /ɛˈlɪpsɨs/

Noun

ellipsis (plural ellipses)

1. (typography) A mark consisting of three periods, historically with spaces in between, before, and after them “ . . . ”, nowadays a single character “…” (used in printing to indicate an omission).
   • 2006, Danielle Corsetto, Girls with Slingshots: 114

     CARD: Hey Baby. Thanks for the … last night. Love you!

     HAZEL: Wow. I’ve never despised an ellipsis so much in my life.

2. (grammar) The omission of a grammatically required word or phrase that can be inferred.
3. (film) The omission of scenes in a film that do not advance the plot.
   • 2002, David Blanke, The 1910s: 219

     It was now possible for writers and directors to cut scenes that did not further the plot; called "ellipses" by filmmakers.

Synonyms

• (typography indicating omission): dot dot dot

See also

Punctuation

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἔλλειψις (elleipsis, “omission”)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA: /elˈlip.sis/

Noun

ellipsis (genitive ellipsis); f, third declension

1. ellipsis
2. ellipse
   • 1644, René Descartes, Principia philosophiae

     Unde sequitur ambitum ABCD non esse circulum perfectum, sed magis ad ellipsis figuram accedere

Inflection

¹ May also be ellipsīs.

Descendants

• English: ellipsis

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