elusive

The definition of elusive is being difficult to grasp or retain.

(adjective)

An example of elusive is a difficult name to remember.

See elusive in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Origin: < L elusus (see elusion) + -ive

Also Rareelusory

Related Forms:

See elusive in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Tending to elude capture, perception, comprehension, or memory: “an invisible cabal of conspirators, each more elusive than the archterrorist [himself]” (David Kline).
Difficult to define or describe: “Failures are more finely etched in our minds than triumphs, and success is an elusive, if not mythic, goal in our demanding society” (Hugh Drummond).

Origin:

Origin: From Latin ēlūsus

Origin: , past participle of ēlūdere, to elude; see elude

Related Forms: