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ellipsis Definition

el·lip·sis (e lip′sis, i-)

noun pl. -·ses′--sēz′

  1. Gram. the omission of a word or words necessary for complete grammatical construction but understood in the context (Ex.: “if possible” for “if it is possible”)
  2. ellipsis points

Etymology: L < Gr elleipsis: see ellipse

ellipsis Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: Where a function has a variable argument list ( as declared in the prototype using ellipsis ` .. .
  • specify: Variable-length Parameter Lists XSUBs can have variable-length parameter lists by specifying an ellipsis ( ... ) in the parameter list.
  • indicate: To indicate ellipsis after the conclusion of a complete sentence, use four periods with no space before the first.
  • have: The function has an ellipsis in its parameter list.

Converse of subject

  • indicate: Breaks in the quotation are indicated by an ellipsis.
  • publish: To be published by ellipsis, London, early in 1999 with a co-publisher in the USA.

Preposition: within

sentence: Ellipsis within a sentence is indicated by three spaced stops.

Modifies a noun

  • dot: Of somewhat lesser importance, but not of effect, is Bennett's use of ellipsis dots and of parentheses.
  • button: Click the ellipsis button to display the File Name dialog.
  • point: Words may be omitted and shown by the use of three dots, known as ellipsis points.
  • glyph: Shame really, as the ellipsis glyph generally is spaced using thin spaces rather than spaces.

Preposition: in

bracket: Editorial omissions in quotations must be indicated by an ellipsis in square brackets: [ .. .

Preposition: of

verb: V. 10 consists of a threefold parallelism enhanced by anaphora and ellipsis of the verb; each of the three parts forms an antithesis.