Elusive

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪˈluːsɪv/
• RP IPA: /iˈluːsɪv/
• Homophones: illusive

Origin

From Latin elusus past participle of eludo ("to parry a blow, to deceive")

Full definition of elusive

Adjective

1. Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.The elusive criminal was arrested
• 1910, Jack London, Lost Face Chapter 6, Charley chased the elusive idea through all the nooks and crannies of his drowning consciousness.
2. Rarely seen.
• 2002, Scott Roederer, Birding: Rocky Mountain National Park, While you're sniffing the trunks of the ponderosas to see if they're butterscotch, vanilla, strawberry, or the elusive chocolate variety, watch for Brown Creepers, an elusive variety of bird.
3. Difficult to describe.A precise definition of diarrhea is elusive (Robbin's pathology, 8th ed)

Related terms

• elude