nounWord forms: plural-scissas or -scissae (-ˈsɪsiː)
the horizontal or x-coordinate of a point in a two-dimensional system of Cartesian coordinates. It is the distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis
Also : absciss, abscisse. Compare ordinate
Word origin
C17: New Latin, originally linea abscissa a cut-off line
abscissa in American English
(æbˈsɪsə; əbˈsɪsə)
nounWord forms: pluralabˈscissas or abˈscissae (æbˈsɪsi; əbˈsɪsi)
Ancient Mathematics
the horizontal Cartesian coordinate on a plane, measured from the y-axis along a line parallel with the x-axis to point P
Word origin
L abscissa (linea), (a line) cut off, fem. of abscissus, pp. of abscindere, to cut off < ab-, from, off + scindere, to cut < IE *skei-: for base see saw2