Elusive

Pronunciation: /iˈluːsɪv/

Definitions of elusive

adjective difficult to find, catch, or achieve

Example Sentences

A1 The solution to the puzzle was elusive for the young children.

A2 Finding a parking spot in the city can be elusive during peak hours.

B1 The elusive thief managed to escape without leaving any clues behind.

B2 The elusive concept of time travel continues to intrigue scientists and philosophers.

C1 The artist's elusive style has captivated art critics around the world.

C2 The elusive truth behind the conspiracy theory remains a mystery to this day.

Examples of elusive in a Sentence

formal The solution to the complex mathematical problem remained elusive for years.

informal I've been trying to catch that elusive butterfly in my garden all day.

slang That elusive concert ticket is like finding a needle in a haystack.

figurative Happiness can sometimes feel like an elusive butterfly, always just out of reach.

Grammatical Forms of elusive

• past tense: eluded
• plural: elusives
• comparative: more elusive
• superlative: most elusive
• present tense: eludes
• future tense: will elude
• perfect tense: has eluded
• continuous tense: is eluding
• singular: elusive
• positive degree: elusive
• infinitive: to elude
• gerund: eluding
• participle: eluded

Origin and Evolution of elusive

First Known Use: 1719 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'elusive' originated from the Latin word 'elusivus', which is derived from the verb 'eludere' meaning to deceive or evade.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe something that is difficult to catch or grasp, the meaning of 'elusive' has evolved to also include things that are difficult to understand or define.