leftellipsis

Leftellipsis, also known as the left-pointing ellipsis or a reversed ellipsis, is a typographical symbol consisting of three dots arranged vertically on the left side. While the standard ellipsis (...) is used to indicate omitted text, a leftellipsis is less common and its usage can vary.

Historically, the leftellipsis has been employed to denote a series or sequence that continues backward or to the left, as opposed to the forward or rightward continuation indicated by the standard ellipsis. For instance, in mathematical contexts, it might be used to represent a series of numbers that extends infinitely to the left on the number line, such as ... , -3, -2, -1.

However, the leftellipsis is not a standard character in many fonts or typesetting systems, and its availability can be limited. Due to its infrequent use and potential for ambiguity, it is often avoided in favor of clearer textual explanations or alternative typographical conventions. In some instances, it may be rendered using Unicode characters that approximate the desired visual effect. The precise interpretation of a leftellipsis can depend heavily on the specific context in which it appears.