from
The 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]