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Webster 1913 Edition


Elude

E-lude′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Eluded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Eluding
.]
[L.
eludere
,
elusum
;
e
+
ludere
to play: cf. F.
éluder
. See
Ludicrous
.]
To avoid slyly, by artifice, stratagem, or dexterity; to escape from in a covert manner; to mock by an unexpected escape; to baffle;
as, to
elude
an officer; to
elude
detection, inquiry, search, comprehension; to
elude
the force of an argument or a blow.
Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain,
Then, hid in shades,
eludes
he eager swain.
Pope.
Syn. – To evade; avoid; escape; shun; eschew; flee; mock; baffle; frustrate; foil.

Webster 1828 Edition


Elude

ELU'DE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. eludo; e and ludo, to play. The Latin
verb forms lusi, lusum; and this may be the Heb. to deride.
1.
To escape; to evade; to avoid by artifice, stratagem, wiles, deceit, or dexterity; as, to elude an enemy; to elude the sight; to elude an officer; to elude detection; to elude vigilance; to elude the force of an argument; to elude a blow or stroke.
2.
To mock by an unexpected escape.
Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain,
Then,hid in shades, eludes her eager swain.
3.
To escape being seen; to remain unseen or undiscovered. The cause of magnetism has hitherto eluded the researches of philosophers.

Definition 2024


elude

elude

See also: éludé and élude

English

Verb

elude (third-person singular simple present eludes, present participle eluding, simple past and past participle eluded)

  1. (transitive) To evade, or escape from someone or something, especially by using cunning or skill.
    • 1748. David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 26.
      Thus the observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours to elude or avoid it.
  2. (transitive) To shake off a pursuer; to give someone the slip.
    • 2012 December 29, Paul Doyle, “Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle”, in The Guardian:
      Podolski gave Walcott a chance to further embellish Arsenal's first-half performance when he eluded James Perch and slipped the ball through to the striker.
  3. (transitive) To escape understanding of; to be incomprehensible to.

Related terms

Translations


Italian

Verb

elude

  1. third-person singular present indicative of eludere

Anagrams


Latin

Verb

ēlūde

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of ēlūdō

Spanish

Verb

elude

  1. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present indicative form of eludir.
  2. Informal second-person singular () affirmative imperative form of eludir.