ellipsis

[ ih-lip-sis ]

noun

, plural el·lip·ses [ih-, lip, -seez].

1. Grammar.
   1. 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.
   2. 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.

ellipsis

/ ɪˈlɪpsɪs /

noun

1. Also calledeclipsis omission of parts of a word or sentence
2. printing a sequence of three dots (…) indicating an omission in text

ellipsis

1. A punctuation mark (…) 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 (…) used most often … to indicate….”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ellipsis¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin ellīpsis, from Greek élleipsis “omission,” from el- (variant of en- en- ² ) + leip-, stem of leípein “to leave” + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of ellipsis¹

C16: from Latin, from Greek elleipsis omission, from elleipein to leave out, from leipein to leave

Example Sentences

But I noticed that when you quoted this section on page 116, you left “general welfare” out and put an ellipsis in its place.

From The Daily Beast

With this reading, left (l. 22) would be taken as an ellipsis for being left; with the emended reading, for was left.

From Project Gutenberg

"As soon as I've seen—" and a significant nod supplied the ellipsis.

From Project Gutenberg

A row of asterisks represents an ellipsis in a poetry quotation.

From Project Gutenberg

The remaining points connected with the syntax of substantives, are chiefly points of ellipsis.

From Project Gutenberg

The preceding examples illustrate an apparent paradox, viz., the fact of pleonasm and ellipsis being closely allied.

From Project Gutenberg