# abscissa

## English

 This entry needs a photograph or drawing for illustration. Please try to find a suitable image on Wikimedia Commons or upload one there yourself!

### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

• (US) IPA(key): /æbˈsɪs.ə/
•  Audio (US) Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player. You can download the clip or download a player to play the clip in your browser. (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 $(3,2)$ 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]

### References

1. 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)

### Noun

abscissa f (genitive abscissae); first declension

### 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