-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IzFhxkWKjDmER3ASw76uuGIVT2rnHk4MnGI6mJzlbrq5OjJdvq8swb+tEgTMDsRH
 QSIzTwqS8jgsEQ1/o7nvJg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000793040-06-000008.txt : 20060405
<SEC-HEADER>0000793040-06-000008.hdr.sgml : 20060405
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060405161739
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000793040-06-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060404
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060405
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060405

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELLSWORTH FUND LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000793040
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				133345139
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(973) 631-1177

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ELLSWORTH CONVERTIBLE GROWTH & INCOME FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAKE H TUCKER JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190034

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04656
		FILM NUMBER:		06742296

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		65 MADISON AVE
		CITY:			MORRISTOWN
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07960
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000793040</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELLSWORTH FUND LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190034</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAKE H TUCKER JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DAVIS-DINSMORE MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>65 MADISON AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORRISTOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07960</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Beneficial Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>187</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14635</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>UTMA Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is filed to report a disposition of 187 shares gifted to the reporting person's daughter. The shares were previously held by a Uniform Transfer to Minors Act NJ (UTMA) trust for the benefit of Mr. Lake's daughter. Includes 14 shares acquired on various dates in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 under the ECF dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 11,726 shares owned by Mr. Lake's wife. On various dates in fiscal years 2005 and 2006, 475 shares were acquired under the ECF dividend reinvestment plan.

Mr. Lake's shares also include 433 shares acquired on various dates in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 under the ECF dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>On February 17, 2006, Ellsworth Fund Ltd., a Delaware statutory trust, became the successor to Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, pursuant to a merger. The merger had the effect of changing the domicile of Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund, Inc., but did not alter the proportionate interests of security holders.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gary I. Levine, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----