abscissa

[ab-sis-uh] /æbˈsɪs ə/
noun, plural abscissas, abscissae
[ab-sis-ee] /æbˈsɪs i/ (Show IPA). Mathematics
1.
(in plane Cartesian coordinates) the x-coordinate of a point: its distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis.
Compare ordinate.
Origin
1690-1700; feminine of Latin abscissus (past participle of abscindere to abscind)
British Dictionary definitions for abscissas

abscissa

/æbˈsɪsə/
noun (pl) -scissas, -scissae (-ˈsɪsiː)
1.
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 Compare ordinate
Word Origin
C17: New Latin, originally linea abscissa a cut-off line
Word Origin and History for abscissas

abscissa

n.

1690s, from Latin abscissa (linea) "(a line) cut off," from fem. past participle of abscindere "to cut off," from ab- "off, away" (see ab-) + scindere "to cut" (see shed (v.)).

abscissas in Science
abscissa
  (āb-sĭs'ə)   

Plural abscissas or abscissae (āb-sĭs'ē)
The distance of a point from the y-axis on a graph in the Cartesian coordinate system. It is measured parallel to the x-axis. For example, a point having coordinates (2,3) has 2 as its abscissa. Compare ordinate.