elusoryadj.
/ɪˈl(j)uːsəri/ 1.
a. Tending to elude (a danger, argument, law, etc.); of the nature of an evasion or subterfuge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > [adjective] > evading truth
prevaricating1608
prevaricatory1645
elusory1646
prevaricative1657
equivocating1707
paltering1821
understated1937
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > evasive > specifically of action or conduct
shuffling1644
elusory1646
elusive1719
evasive1744
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica i. x. 42 They are..elusory tergiversations. View more context for this quotation
1676 W. Temple Let. in Wks. (1731) II. 401 They had delayed the Exchange..and at length offered it with Conditions that I esteemed wholly elusory.
1758 J. Dalrymple Ess. Hist. Feudal Prop. (ed. 2) ii. 37 People..took directly an elusory duty, as a rose, a pair of spurs, &c.
1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) III. xiv. 199 Security..which proved in the end almost elusory.
b. Characterized by eluding.Apparently an isolated use.
ΚΠ
1825 W. Scott Talisman i, in Tales Crusaders III. 13 The Christian knight, desirous to terminate this illusory warfare..seized the mace.
2. Of an object of thought: That eludes the mental grasp; that one cannot ‘get hold of’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > [adjective]
uncouthc897
unnimlyc1225
incomprehensiblea1340
unsearchablec1384
unknowable?c1400
investigablea1425
uncomprehensiblea1425
unthinkablec1445
imperscrutablec1450
inscrutablec1450
inopinable?a1475
incomprenable1502
unspectable?1504
incogitablec1522
uncogitable1529
impenetrable1531
inimaginable1534
inexplicable1555
unsensible1555
unscrutable1562
unfashionable1563
unpenetrable1581
unexcogitable1592
ineffable1598
inexcogitable1599
indivinable1603
ininvestigable1604
incapable1605
searchless?1606
uncomprehensive1609
unconceivable1611
undivinable1611
unimaginable1611
unexplicable1615
unintelligible1616
unapprehensible?1617
unfathomable1617
imprehensible1622
ununderstandablea1631
indeprehensible1633
indiscernible1635
inscrute1639
inapprehensiblea1641
indiscoverable1640
unexaminable1641
impervestigable1643
fathomless1645
inconceivable1646
indeterminable1646
inexplorable1646
insearchable1647
incomprehended1652
comprehendlessa1654
incomprehensive1656
untraceable1661
uninvestigablea1677
unintelligent1683
incognoscible1691
thought-transcendinga1711
uncognizable1720
acataleptic1727
undescriptive1744
elusive1751
impalpable1781
inaccessible1796
unconjecturable1806
uncognoscible1821
unascertainable1827
unfixable1831
unguessable1832
unrealizable1832
unsurveyable1833
hard-shelled1835
unintellective1837
undeemed1845
graspless1849
unconjectured1850
incognizable1852
ungraspable1853
unreadable1853
super-cerebral1854
elusory1856
trans-conscious1865
intangible1880
uncatchable1892
unspelt1892
unplumbable1895
unknowledgeable1920
indiscutable1933
1856 J. F. Ferrier Inst. Metaphysic (ed. 2) Introd. 68 This..is a most elusory..problem.
Derivatives
eˈlusoriness n. rare Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ΚΠ
1731 in Bailey .
1775 in Ash [and in mod. Dicts.]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
adj.1646