̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷s]iv, ]ēv also -z] or ]əv adjective
Etymology: elus ion + -ive
: tending to elude : evasive: as
a. : tending to avoid or evade grasp or pursuit
shy elusive denizens of the deep woods
often : incapable of being prolonged
elusive pleasures of a sunny afternoon in childhood
b. : not easily comprehended or defined : baffling
that elusive thing, the soul
an elusive person
c. : hard to pin down, isolate, or identify
use of egg cultures to isolate certain hitherto elusive viruses
a haunting elusive odor
the elusive atomic particles called mesons — John Pfeiffer
• elu·sive·ly ]ə̇vlē, -li\ adverb