abscissa

English

A point in the Cartesian plane; x is the abscissa.

Etymology

By ellipsis from Latin [linea] abscissa, feminine of abscissus, perfect passive participle of abscindō (cut off). See abscind.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /æbˈsɪs.ə/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: ab‧scis‧sa

Noun

abscissa (plural abscissas or abscissae or abscissæ)

  1. (geometry) The first of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes. The abscissa is also known as the "x" coordinate of a point, shown on the horizontal line, with the ordinate, also known as the "y" coordinate, shown on the vertical line. [First attested in the late 17th century.][1]
    The point has 3 as its abscissa and 2 as its ordinate.
  2. (geometry) The horizontal line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the abscissa (sense above) is shown.

Usage notes

Originally, it referred to the portion of a line between a fixed point on that line and the intersection of that line with an ordinate.[1]

Synonyms

Translations

See also

References

  1. “abscissa” in Lesley Brown, editor, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 8.

Latin

Etymology 1

From abscissus, perfect passive participle of abscindō (tear away)

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /apˈskis.sa/, [apˈskɪs.sa]

Noun

abscissa f (genitive abscissae); first declension

  1. (mathematics) abscissa
Inflection

First declension.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative abscissa abscissae
Genitive abscissae abscissārum
Dative abscissae abscissīs
Accusative abscissam abscissās
Ablative abscissā abscissīs
Vocative abscissa abscissae
Descendants

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Participle

abscissa

  1. nominative feminine singular of abscissus
  2. nominative neuter plural of abscissus
  3. accusative neuter plural of abscissus
  4. vocative feminine singular of abscissus
  5. vocative neuter plural of abscissus

Participle

abscissā

  1. ablative feminine singular of abscissus

Portuguese

Noun

abscissa f (plural abscissas)

  1. (geometry) abscissa (first of two coordinates)

Swedish

Noun

abscissa c

  1. Alternative spelling of abskissa; abscissa

Declension

Declension of abscissa 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative abscissa abscissan abscissor abscissorna
Genitive abscissas abscissans abscissors abscissornas
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.