Elliptic
/ɪˈlɪp.tɪk/noun
Shaped like an ellipse; also, in mathematics, relating to an elliptic curve or function.
Did you know?Elliptic comes from the Greek root behind “ellipsis,” literally the idea of an omission, so the shape was named for what it seems to lack.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐλλείπειν (elleipein)
“to fall short, leave out, be lacking”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔλλειψις (elleipsis)
“a falling short, omission; later, an ellipse”
Late Latin
Latin
ellipticus
“elliptic, pertaining to an ellipse or omission”
17th Century
English
elliptic
“pertaining to an ellipse; also, omissive or implied rather than fully expressed”
Modern English
English
elliptic
“shaped like an ellipse; relating to elliptic functions or curves”