Allusive

Pronunciation: /əˈluːsɪv/

Definitions of allusive

adjective referring to or containing indirect references

Example Sentences

A1 The children enjoyed the allusive story with hidden messages.

A2 The movie was filled with allusive references to famous historical events.

B1 The novel's allusive language required readers to make connections to other literary works.

B2 The artist's painting was highly allusive, incorporating symbols and motifs from various cultures.

C1 The playwright's use of allusive dialogue added depth and complexity to the characters.

C2 The poet's allusive style left readers pondering the deeper meanings behind the words.

Examples of allusive in a Sentence

formal The author's writing style is often allusive, requiring readers to make connections to previous works.

informal I didn't understand the allusive reference in the movie until someone explained it to me.

slang The lyrics of the song are so allusive, it's like a puzzle trying to figure out what they mean.

figurative Her allusive remarks about the situation hinted at a deeper meaning that we couldn't quite grasp.

Grammatical Forms of allusive

• past tense: alluded
• plural: allusives
• comparative: more allusive
• superlative: most allusive
• present tense: alludes
• future tense: will allude
• perfect tense: has alluded
• continuous tense: is alluding
• singular: allusive
• positive degree: allusive
• infinitive: to allude
• gerund: alluding
• participle: alluded

Origin and Evolution of allusive

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'allusive' originated from the Latin word 'allusivus', which is derived from the verb 'alludere' meaning 'to play with, jest, or refer to'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'allusive' has retained its original meaning of making indirect references or hints, but has also come to be used more broadly in literature and language to describe anything that alludes to or suggests something else.