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Webster 1913 Edition

Abscissa

Ab-scis′sa

,
Noun.
;
E. pl.
Abscissas
, L. pl.
Abscissæ
.
[L., fem. of
abscissus
, p. p. of
absindere
to cut of. See
Abscind
.]
(Geom.)
One of the elements of reference by which a point, as of a curve, is referred to a system of fixed rectilineal coördinate axes.
When referred to two intersecting axes, one of them called the axis of abscissas, or of X, and the other the axis of ordinates, or of Y, the abscissa of the point is the distance cut off from the axis of X by a line drawn through it and parallel to the axis of Y. When a point in space is referred to three axes having a common intersection, the abscissa may be the distance measured parallel to either of them, from the point to the plane of the other two axes. Abscissas and ordinates taken together are called coördinates. – OX or PY is the abscissa of the point P of the curve, OY or PX its ordinate, the intersecting lines OX and OY being the axes of abscissas and ordinates respectively, and the point O their origin.

Definition 2024

abscissa

abscissa

English

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

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.

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

See also

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 8

Latin

Etymology

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

Descendants

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

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

Inflection of abscissa 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative abscissa abscissan abscissor abscissorna
Genitive abscissas abscissans abscissors abscissornas

Etymology

From Latin abscissa, feminine of abscissus, perfect passive participle of abscindō ‎(“cut off”). See abscind.

Pronunciation

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

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