Main Entry: ab·scis·sa

Pronunciation: \ab-ˈsi-sə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural abscissas also ab·scis·sae \-ˈsi-(ˌ)sē\

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, feminine of abscissus, past participle of abscindere to cut off, from ab- + scindere to cut — more at shed

Date: 1694

: the horizontal coordinate of a point in a plane Cartesian coordinate system obtained by measuring parallel to the x-axis — compare ordinate

[abscissa illustration]