looping over the files in a directory

[Krzysztof Szynter]

Scott David Daniels <Scott.Daniels at Acm.Org> wrote in 
news:40a4fba5$1 at nntp0.pdx.net:

> This is purposely left a bit elliptical to leave you some work in
> case this is a homework assignment.

Sorry for that, but what does mean 'a bit elliptical' in this sentence? 
Is it a kind of circumlocution?

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