verb
elude
ih-LOOD/ɪˈluːd/
To remain beyond someone's efforts to catch or obtain.
A rabbit eludes a pursuing dog by slipping through a narrow fence gap.
Etymology
The pieces combine “away” with “play.” The Latin verb included winning at play, parrying, and frustrating someone—a connection that helps explain escaping capture or defeating attempts to understand or detect something.
In context
This is how he is able to elude a trial. He is never actually put on trial.
More examples
- The suspect eluded police for three days.
- Her name eludes me, though I recognize her face.
- A championship still eludes the team after years of training.
Forms
elude · eludes · eluded · eluding
elusive adjective — Hard to catch, find, understand, or achieve.