[as if ad. L. *ēlūsiōn-em, n. of action f. ēlūdĕ-re to ELUDE.]
† 1. The action of deluding or befooling a person; concr. an illusion, deceptive appearance. Cf. ELUDE v. 1.
1550. Cranmer, Defence, 22 b. Than is the sensible sacrament nothyng else but an elusion of our senses.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., II. 294. Strengthens the Brain, takes away Elusions and Phantasms of the Mind.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, IV. (1723), 239. The Impostures and Elusions of those who have pretended to it [i.e., transmutation of metals].
2. The action of escaping dexterously from (danger, pursuit, etc.), of evading (an argument, a command, law or obligation): cf. ELUDE 2, 3. rare in mod. use. Const. of.
1624–47. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 272. The place is so choakingly convictive, that there can be no probable elusion of it.
1633. T. Adams, Comm. 2 Peter i. 3. Yet shall there be no elusion of God’s will.
1681. H. More, Expos. Daniel, Pref. 94. Interposals of humane invention are … wicked elusions of the power and comfort of the Gospel.
1726. Amherst, Terræ Filius, II. App. 130. The trouble of writing so voluminous a book upon the insufficiency and elusion of one particular statute.
1874. T. Hardy, Far fr. Madding Crowd, II. xvi. 196–7. The planting of flowers on Fanny’s grave had been perhaps but a species of elusion of the primary grief.
† b. absol. An evasion, subterfuge; abstr. evasiveness. Obs.
1617. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 498. I heare your answer … An elusion fit for children. Ibid. (1628), Old Relig. (1686), 168. Cardinal Bellarmine’s elusion is not a little prejudicial to his own cause.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Serm., I. xxiii. 296. Laws are not to be cosened and abused by … phantastick elusions.
1688. Vox Cleri Pro R., 7. He hath writ with all the … Elusion, to which the Capacity of his Wit could extend.
