Ellipsis
/ɪˈlɪp.sɪs/noun
The omission of one or more words from a sentence, often indicated by three dots.
Did you know?In ancient rhetoric, ellipsis was considered a powerful technique, almost like casting a spell of intrigue on the listener by leaving them wanting more.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔλλειψις
“A leaving out, omission.”
Latin
Latin
ellipsis
“An omission, a leaving out.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
ellipsis
“The act of omitting.”
15th Century
Middle English
ellipsys
“Borrowed from Latin, referring specifically to the omission in speech.”
Modern English
English
ellipsis
“Adopted in English to denote the grammatical omission, still reflecting its ancient roots.”