/i lip"tik lee/ , adv.
1. in the form of an ellipse.
2. in an elliptical manner; by an ellipse.
3. with great economy of words or expression; concisely: to speak elliptically.
4. without sufficient transition or a logical connection between thoughts, ideas, or expressions; ambiguously or cryptically: to jump elliptically from generalities to specifics.
[ 1810-20; ELLIPTICAL + -LY ]