elude

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e·lude / iˈloōd/ • v. [tr.] evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way: he managed to elude his pursuers by escaping into an alley. ∎  (of an idea or fact) fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone): the logic of this eluded most people. ∎  (of an achievement, or something desired or pursued) fail to be attained by (someone): sleep still eluded her.DERIVATIVES: e·lu·sion / iˈloōzhən/ n.ORIGIN: mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘delude, baffle’): from Latin eludere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away from’ + ludere ‘to play.’