Definition

A term used to describe the omission of certain words or sounds in speech or writing, often represented by a line or dash.

Example

In the sentence, the eclipsis made it clear that some words were intentionally left out.

Conversation

I read an article about eclipsis in linguistics yesterday.

Oh really? What did it say?

It explained how it’s used to show that some text has been omitted.

That makes sense — I guess it’s a clever way to keep things concise!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Eclipsis → It is derived from the Greek word "ekleipsis" (ἔκλειψις), which means "a leaving out" or "an omission." The prefix "ek-" (meaning out) combined with "leipō" (meaning to leave) indicates the act of leaving something out or obscuring it. In a broader sense, it refers to an eclipse, where one celestial body obscures another.

Memory Tip

Think of something 'leaving out' or 'obscuring' another — 'ek-' means out, and 'leipō' means to leave. This helps you remember that 'eclipsis' refers to the phenomenon where one object obscures another.

Visually Confused Words