elliptically

[ ih-lip-tik-lee ]
/ ɪˈlɪp tɪk li /

adverb

in the form of an ellipse.
in an elliptical manner; by an ellipse.
with great economy of words or expression; concisely: to speak elliptically.
without sufficient transition or a logical connection between thoughts, ideas, or expressions; ambiguously or cryptically: to jump elliptically from generalities to specifics.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of elliptically

First recorded in 1810–20; elliptical + -ly

Words nearby elliptically

elliptical amputation, elliptical galaxy, elliptical light, elliptical polarization, elliptical trainer, elliptically, ellipticity, elliptocyte, elliptocytosis, elliptograph, ellis
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for elliptically