adj.
Pronunciation: i- ' lip-ti-k ə l, e-
Variant: or el · lip · tic \ -tik \
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek elleiptikos defective, marked by ellipsis, from elleipein
Date: 1656
1 : of, relating to, or shaped like an ellipse
2 a : of, relating to, or marked by ellipsis or an ellipsis b (1) : of, relating to, or marked by extreme economy of speech or writing (2) : of or relating to deliberate obscurity (as of literary or conversational style)
– el · lip · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb