'Ellipsis' definitions:
Definition of 'ellipsis'
(from WordNet)
noun
Omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences [syn: ellipsis, eclipsis]
Definition of 'Ellipsis'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Synonyms of 'ellipsis'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abbreviation,
- abridgment,
- abstract,
- apocope,
- aposiopesis,
- clipping,
- compression,
- condensation,
- conspectus,
- contraction,
- crasis,
- curtailment,
- cutting,
- elision,
- epitome,
- foreshortening,
- precis,
- pruning,
- recap,
- recapitulation,
- reduction,
- retrenchment,
- shortening,
- summary,
- summation,
- syncope,
- syneresis,
- synopsis,
- telescoping,
- truncation