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elusive

Syllabification: (e·lu·sive)

Pronunciation: /iˈlo͞osiv/

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Definition of elusive

adjective

difficult to find, catch, or achieve:success will become ever more elusive
difficult to remember or recall:the elusive thought he had had moments before

Derivatives

elusively
elusiveness

Origin:

early 18th century: from Latin elus- 'eluded' (from the verb eludere) + -ive

Do not confuse elusive with illusive. Elusive means 'hard to find, catch, or achieve' (what I was looking for proved elusive), whereas illusive means 'not real, although seeming to be' (the illusive nature of the material world).

elusive in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of elusive in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

elusive

adjective

Derivatives

elusively

elusiveness

Origin:

elusive in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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