ellipse etymology

Etymology

• Greek: ἔλλειψις (elleipsis), "omission, falling short"
• Latin: ellipsis, "omission"

Meaning

An ellipse is a plane curve surrounding two focal points, such that for all points on the curve, the sum of the two distances to the focal points is a constant.

Origin

The term "ellipse" was first coined by the ancient Greek mathematician Apollonius of Perga in the 3rd century BC. Apollonius used the term to describe a particular type of conic section, which is a plane curve that results from the intersection of a cone and a plane.

The shape of an ellipse is determined by the ratio of the two distances from the curve to the focal points. If the ratio is 1, the ellipse is a circle. If the ratio is less than 1, the ellipse is an elongated oval. If the ratio is greater than 1, the ellipse is a flattened oval.

ellipse relate terms

• ellipsis

  Etymology Meaning and Origin of Ellipsis Etymology Greek ἔλλειψις ellei

• ellipsoid

  Etymology The word ellipsoid is derived from the Greek words ἔλλειψις elle

• ellipse

  Etymology Greek ἔλλειψις elleipsis omission falling short Latin ellipsi

• delinquent

  Etymology of Delinquent The word delinquent originates from the Latin word delinquer

• derelict

  Etymology The word derelict comes from the Latin word derelinquere which means to

• eclipse

  Etymology The word eclipse is derived from the Ancient Greek word ekleipsis meaning

• eleven

  Etymology The word eleven derives from the Old English word endleofan meaning one

• ellipse

  Etymology Greek ἔλλειψις elleipsis omission falling short Latin ellipsi

• ellipsis

  Etymology Meaning and Origin of Ellipsis Etymology Greek ἔλλειψις ellei

• elliptic

  Etymology Greek elleipsis omitting falling short Meaning Having or shaped li

• lipo

  Etymology The word lipo comes from the Greek word λιπο meaning fat Meaning

• lipogram

  Etymology The word lipogram is derived from two Greek words Lipo λειπο m

• loan

  Etymology The word loan comes from the Middle English loan which in turn derives fr

• paralipsis

  Etymology From Greek παράλειψις paraleipsis from παρά para beside

• relic

  Etymology Middle English relike Old French relique Latin reliquia a thing left beh

• relict

  Etymology From Latin relictus past participle of relinquere to leave behind Cognate

• reliction

  Etymology Early 15th century in the sense a place left deserted from Latin rel

• relinquish

  Etymology Old French relenquir Latin relinquere Proto Italic lik Proto Indo Europe

• reliquiae

  Etymology Reliquiae is a Latin plural noun derived from the singular reliquia which

• twelve

  Etymology The word twelve derives from the Old English twelf which itself comes fro

• oval

  Etymology The word oval comes from the Latin word ovum meaning egg Meaning An o

• circle

  Etymology The English word circle comes from the Latin word circulus a diminutive o

• cleric

  Etymology The word cleric is derived from the following Latin clericus Greek kler

• look

  Etymology Old English lōcian to see Proto West Germanic lōkijanan Proto Germanic

• supercilious

  Etymology Super above Latin Cilium eyelash Latin Meaning haughty or arro

• necromancy

  Etymology The term necromancy comes from the Greek words nekros νεκρός mean

• incarceration

  Etymology The word incarceration comes from the Latin incarcerare meaning to impri

• intuitive

  Etymology Latin intuere to gaze at consider understand Intuitio a looking at