a. [ad. late L. ēlūsōrius, f. ēlūs- ppl. stem of ēlūdĕre to ELUDE.]
1. Tending to elude (a danger, argument, law, etc.); of the nature of an evasion or subterfuge.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. x. 42. They are … elusory tergiversations.
1676. Temple, Lett., Wks. 1731, II. 401. They had delayed the Exchange … and at length offered it with Conditions that I esteemed wholly elusory.
1757. Sir J. Dalrymple, Ess. Feudal Prop., 41. People … took directly an elusory duty, as a rose, a pair of spurs, &c.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, III. xiv. § 63. 199. Security … which proved in the end almost elusory.
b. nonce-use. Characterized by eluding.
1825. Scott, Talism., i. The Christian knight, desirous to terminate this elusory warfare … seized the mace.
2. Of an object of thought: That eludes the mental grasp; that one cannot ‘get hold of.’
1856. Ferrier, Inst. Metaph., Introd. 68. This … is a most elusory … problem.
Hence Elusoriness. rare–0.
1731. In Bailey;
1775. in Ash; and in mod. Dicts.
