Main Entry: el·lip·ti·cal

Pronunciation: \i-ˈlip-ti-kəl, e-\

Variant(s): 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-)lē\ adverb