Abstruse

Abstruse
Abstruse Ab*struse", a. [L. abstrusus, p. p. of abstrudere to thrust away, conceal; ab, abs + trudere to thrust; cf. F. abstrus. See {Threat}.] 1. Concealed or hidden out of the way. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; recondite; as, abstruse learning. [1913 Webster]

Profound and abstruse topics. --Milman. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • abstruse — I adjective abstract, ambiguous, attenuated, cloudy, complex, difficult to understand, elusive, enigmatic, esoteric, hidden, incomprehensible, indefinable, indefinite, inexplicable, mysterious, nebulous, obscure, profound, puzzling, rarefied,… …   Law dictionary

  • abstruse — (adj.) 1590s, from M.Fr. abstrus (16c.) or directly from L. abstrusus, pp. of abstrudere conceal, lit. to thrust away, from ab away (see AB (Cf. ab )) + trudere to thrust, push (see EXTRUSION (Cf. extrusion)). Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • abstruse — *recondite, occult, esoteric Analogous words: *complex, complicated, intricate, knotty: *abstract, ideal: enigmatic, cryptic, dark, *obscure Antonyms: obvious, plain Contrasted words: *evident, manifest, clear, palpable: *easy, s …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • abstruse — [adj] difficult to understand abstract, clear as dishwater*, complex, complicated, deep, enigmatic, esoteric, Greek to me*, heavy*, hidden, incomprehensible, intricate, involved, muddy, obscure, perplexing, profound, puzzling, recondite, subtle,… …   New thesaurus

  • abstruse — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ difficult to understand; obscure. DERIVATIVES abstrusely adverb abstruseness noun. ORIGIN Latin abstrusus concealed …   English terms dictionary

  • abstruse — [ab stro͞os′, əbstro͞os′] adj. [L abstrusus, pp. of abstrudere, to thrust away < ab(s) , away + trudere, to THRUST] hard to understand because of being extremely complex, intellectually demanding, highly abstract, etc.; deep; recondite… …   English World dictionary

  • abstruse — adjective /æbˈstruːs,əbˈstruːs/ remote from apprehension; difficult to comprehend or understand; recondite; as in abstruse learning. It is certain that the easy and obvious philosophy will always, with the generality of mankind, have the… …   Wiktionary

  • abstruse — ● abstrus, abstruse adjectif (latin abstrusus, caché) Littéraire. Difficile à comprendre, obscur, abscons : Un poème abstrus. ● abstrus, abstruse (synonymes) adjectif (latin abstrusus, caché) Littéraire. Difficile à comprendre, obscur, abscons… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • abstruse — [16] It is not clear whether English borrowed abstruse from French abstrus(e) or directly from Latin abstrūsus, but the ultimate source is the Latin form. It is the past participle of the verb abstrūdere, literally ‘thrust’ (trūdere) ‘away’ (ab) …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • abstruse — [[t]æbstru͟ːs[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) You can describe something as abstruse if you find it difficult to understand, especially when you think it could be explained more simply. [FORMAL] Meanwhile meetings keep reverting to fruitless… …   English dictionary

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