elusive

Meanings

• adjective

  Hard to catch or grasp; evasive.

  - "The elusive fox was hard to catch."
  - "The answer to the riddle was elusive and took hours to find."

• adjective

  Escaping or tending to escape notice, capture, or comprehension.

  - "The elusive scent of jasmine filled the air."
  - "The elusive nature of time baffles scientists."

---

Pronunciation

1. /ɪˈluːsɪv/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89970558"

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with elusive
delusive , oblivious , precious

---

Variants

List of all variants of elusive that leads to same result
elusive , elusively , elusiveness , elusivenesses

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French elusif, from eluer to elude.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'elusive' comes from the Latin word 'eludere', which means 'to mock' or 'to deceive'.

2. In mythology, the elusive is often associated with the god Mercury, who was known for his quick wit and ability to escape difficult situations.

3. The elusive is a common theme in many works of literature, including Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Purloined Letter' and Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick'.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Evasiveness: The quality of being elusive or hard to pin down.

2. Enigma: A puzzling or mysterious person or thing.

---

Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. But for all their influence, D.C. lobbyists have failed to attain one "elusive" goal: public respect.

   - Franklin Foer,{it}New Republic{/it},25 Mar. 2002

2. This boson is so central to the state of physics today, so crucial to our final understanding of the structure of matter, yet so "elusive", that I have given it a nickname: the God Particle.

   - Leon Lederman et al.,{it}The God Particle{/it},1993

3. In truth, the ideal of wholly disinterested scholarship—in any field of research—will probably remain an "elusive" one.

   - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.,{it}New York Times{/it},4 Apr. 1998

4. His meanings have been known to be "elusive", which is why he appeals to pop cryptographers.

   - Sarah Vowell,{it}GQ{/it},November 1998

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the elusive is often used to describe an object or concept that is difficult to grasp or understand, such as the meaning of life or the nature of reality. In art, the elusive can refer to an artwork that challenges interpretation or defies easy categorization.

How to Memorize "elusive"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a fox darting through the forest, always just out of reach. Imagine the feeling of frustration and determination as you try to catch it.
   - Visualize a puzzle, with pieces that seem to move and shift as you try to solve it.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'elusive' with the image of a slippery fish, or a mirage in the desert.
   - Associate the word with the feeling of being lost or disoriented.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the acronym E-L-U-S-I-V-E to remember the meaning: Evasive, Luring, Unpredictable, Slippery, Intriguing, Vagueness, and Evasive.

---

Memorize "elusive" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize elusive is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.