How Do You Spell ELUSIVE?

Pronunciation: [ɪlˈuːsɪv] (IPA)

The word "elusive" is spelled with the letters e-l-u-s-i-v-e. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /iˈluːsɪv/. The first two sounds, /i/ and /luː/, represent the vowel sound in "feet" and the "oo" sound in "loom." The third sound, /s/, is a voiceless consonant pronounced by compressing air between the tongue and the teeth. The fourth sound, /ɪ/, is the vowel sound in "sit." The final sound, /v/, is a voiced consonant pronounced by vibrating the vocal cords while holding the teeth together.

ELUSIVE Meaning and Definition

1. Elusive is an adjective that describes something or someone that is difficult to capture, understand, or achieve. It is derived from the Latin word "eludere," which means to evade or avoid.

   When referring to an elusive person, it describes someone who is hard to pin down or fully comprehend. This could be due to their elusive nature, as they purposely keep their true thoughts or intentions concealed. They may be evasive in conversations or difficult to approach, making it challenging to establish a deep connection with them.

   In terms of objects or concepts, elusive refers to something that is difficult to grasp or define. It may be elusive because it is intangible or constantly changing. For example, abstract concepts like happiness, love, or beauty can be elusive as they differ from person to person and can be challenging to define accurately.

   Moreover, elusive can also relate to evasive actions or escaping attempts. For instance, an elusive criminal is challenging for law enforcement to capture as they continuously avoid being caught. Similarly, an elusive sports player may have exceptional agility or the ability to dodge opponents, making it difficult for them to be caught or tackled.

   Overall, elusive signifies something or someone that is hard to catch, comprehend, or define, whether in terms of thought, action, or achievement.

2. Deceptive; using arts to escape.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for ELUSIVE *

• ellusive 91.8918918%
• exlusive 5.4054054%
• alusive 2.7027027%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for ELUSIVE

• elisite
• obusive
• elclusive
• emursive
• eclusive
• inlusive
• elesuve
• ilusive
• elsuive
• elusinve
• elative
• apusive
• eleive
• alosive
• ccusive
• elusie
• elusiv
• pluasive
• elusivey
• efusiv
• Plusize
• Plusizze
• Eluvite
• Exqusive
• Ellsiie
• elusivnes
• Eluvise
• Elusvy

Etymology of ELUSIVE

The word "elusive" originated from the Latin word "elus-", which comes from the verb "eludere". "Eludere" is a combination of two Latin elements: "e", meaning "out", and "ludere", meaning "to play". The term initially referred to the act of avoiding or evading someone, like playing a game of hide-and-seek. Over time, it acquired the figurative meaning of being difficult to grasp, comprehend, or capture. In English, "elusive" was first recorded in the late 16th century with the sense of being unattainable or evasive.

Similar spelling words for ELUSIVE

• Elisabeth,
• elsberry.