First published 1891; not yet revised

ellipticaladjective

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the adjective elliptical mean?

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective elliptical. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

elliptical has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

geometry (mid 1600s) grammar (late 1700s)

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the adjective elliptical?

About 2occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	1.1
1760	1.0
1770	1.1
1780	1.1
1790	1.4
1800	1.7
1810	2.2
1820	2.5
1830	2.8
1840	2.9
1850	2.7
1860	2.7
1870	2.5
1880	2.5
1890	2.4
1900	2.6
1910	2.6
1920	2.6
1930	2.5
1940	2.5
1950	2.5
1960	2.5
1970	2.4
1980	2.2
1990	2.1
2000	2.0
2010	1.9

See frequency

How is the adjective elliptical pronounced?

British English

/ᵻˈlɪptᵻkl/

uh-LIP-tuh-kuhl

U.S. English

/əˈlɪptᵻk(ə)l/

uh-LIP-tuh-kuhl

/iˈlɪptᵻk(ə)l/

ee-LIP-tuh-kuhl

See pronunciation

Where does the adjective elliptical come from?

Earliest known use

mid 1600s

The earliest known use of the adjective elliptical is in the mid 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for elliptical is from 1656, in the writing of Thomas Hobbes, philosopher.

elliptical is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: elliptic adj., ‑al suffix1.

See etymology

Nearby entries

ellipsed, adj.1607
ellipsical, adj.1571
ellipsing, adj.1878–
ellipsis, n.1570–
ellipsist, n.1859–
ellipsograph, n.
ellipsoid, n. & adj.1734–
ellipsoidal, adj.1831–
ellipsone, n.1860–
elliptic, adj.1715–
elliptical, adj.1656–
elliptically, adv.1816–
elliptical machine, n.1996–
ellipticalness, n.1681–
elliptical trainer, n.1997–
ellipticity, n.1754–
elliptic paraboloid, n.1842–
elliptic polarization, n.1831–
elliptograph, n.1855–
elliptoides, n.1731–96
-ello, suffix

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Pronunciation

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Frequency

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Compounds & derived words

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Entry history for elliptical, adj.

elliptical, adj. was first published in 1891; not yet revised.

elliptical, adj. was last modified in March 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into elliptical, adj. in March 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1891)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View elliptical, a. in OED Second Edition

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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for elliptical, adj.

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Nearby entries

ellipsed, adj.1607
ellipsical, adj.1571
ellipsing, adj.1878–
ellipsis, n.1570–
ellipsist, n.1859–
ellipsograph, n.
ellipsoid, n. & adj.1734–
ellipsoidal, adj.1831–
ellipsone, n.1860–
elliptic, adj.1715–
elliptical, adj.1656–
elliptically, adv.1816–
elliptical machine, n.1996–
ellipticalness, n.1681–
elliptical trainer, n.1997–
ellipticity, n.1754–
elliptic paraboloid, n.1842–
elliptic polarization, n.1831–
elliptograph, n.1855–
elliptoides, n.1731–96
-ello, suffix

Browse more nearby entries