Ellipsis

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]