illusiveadj.
/ɪˈl(j)uːsɪv/, U.S. /ᵻˈlusɪv/ That tends to illude or deceive by unreal appearances; productive of illusion or false impression; deceptive; illusory.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > fancy or fantastic notion > deceptive fancy or illusion > [adjective]
phantom?c1450
fairy1549
illusory1599
scenical1610
illusive1679
amusive1727
barmecidal1844
illusionary1886
illusional1900
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deception by illusion, delusion > [adjective]
lyinga1225
deceptoryc1430
mockinga1529
sleight1533
prestigious?1534
illudinga1547
fallible1552
delusory1588
prestigiatory1588
illusory1599
delusive1607
deceptiousa1616
deludinga1616
flatteringa1616
delusorious1625
fallacious1626
ludificatorya1677
illusive1679
will-o'-the-wisp1682
prestigiating1716
shama1721
false1768
deceptitious1827
deceptional1830
phantasm1834
will-o'-the-wispish1842
will-o'-the-wispy1857
illusionistic1911
illusional1942
1679 R. Jenison Narr. Popish Plot 38 As if all were but an apparition or an illusive thing.
1755 J. G. Cooper Tomb Shakspeare (R.) In yonder mead behold that vapour Whose vivid beams illusive play, Far off it seems a friendly taper To guide the traveller on his way.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain Concl. i. 200 A vain illusive show, That melts whene'er the sunbeams glow.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) II. ix. 399 The efforts at a combination had hitherto been illusive and ineffectual.
1893 W. H. Hudson Idle Days Patagonia 208 The mysterious illusive city, peopled by whites..is to moderns a myth.
Derivatives
iˈllusively adv. in an illusive manner, by an illusion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > fancy or fantastic notion > deceptive fancy or illusion > [adverb]
phantasmaticallya1688
illusively1818
hallucinatorily1917
1818 H. J. Todd Johnson's Dict. Eng. Lang. Illusively.
1824 Examiner 246/2 Water was never more illusively lucid.
iˈllusiveness n. illusive or deceptive quality.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > fancy or fantastic notion > deceptive fancy or illusion > [noun] > delusive habit or state
phantasma1250
mazec1300
fantasy1340
fancy1597
illusiveness1727
illusion1774
mythicalism1896
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deception by illusion, delusion > [noun] > delusive nature
fallacy1646
prestigiousness1646
delusivenessa1652
deceptive1652
phantastry1656
unsolidnessa1684
illusiveness1727
illusoriness1727
deceptiveness1837
1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Illusiveness.
1829 I. Taylor Nat. Hist. Enthusiasm ix. 248 A vein of illusiveness runs through every page.
1839 Fraser's Mag. 19 327 The illusion loses its illusiveness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1679