ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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verb

allude

uh-LOOD/ʌlˈud/

To refer indirectly to something.

The speaker alludes to a childhood adventure without describing the treehouse directly.

Speaker indirectly evokes a shared childhood adventure with small thought image of old treehouse.

Etymology

alLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+ludeLatinplay

The “play” root appears in a Latin verb meaning “jest” or “make fun of.” English also used it for pointing to something in passing, the basis of today’s indirect-reference sense.

In context

History Hit25:07

a shape that seems to allude to classical design. This one reminds me of it's as if [music] it's a upside down Corinthian capital from ancient Rome or ancient Greece.

The Greatest Archaeological Discoveries and Artefacts of Recent Years | Full Series

More examples

Her letter alluded to difficulties at work.
The poem seems to allude to an ancient myth.
He keeps alluding to a surprise he refuses to explain.

Forms

allude · alludes · alluded · alluding

allusion noun — An indirect reference to someone or something.

Similar words

mention: Can name something explicitly rather than referring indirectly.
hint: May suggest an unstated possibility rather than invoke something known.