abstruse
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin abstrusus (“‘hidden, concealed’”), the past participle of abstrudere (“‘to thrust away, conceal’”); itself from ab, abs (“‘away’”) + trudere (“‘to thrust, push’”); cognare with French abstrus and German abstrus.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
abstruse (comparative abstruser or more abstruse, superlative abstrusest or most abstruse)
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Comparative |
Superlative |
- remote from apprehension; difficult to comprehend or understand; recondite; as in abstruse learning.
- 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 13.
- It is certain that the easy and obvious philosophy will always, with the generality of mankind, have the preference above the accurate and abstruse;
- 1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 13.
- (obsolete) concealed or hidden out of the way.
- The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. — John Milton. Paradise Lost 1667
- Profound and abstruse topics. - Henry Hart Milman. History of Latin Christianity 1855
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
difficult to comprehend
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concealed
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
[edit] External links
- abstruse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- abstruse in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] French
[edit] Adjective
- feminine inflection of abstrus
