abstruse

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Latin abstrūsus (hidden, concealed), the perfect passive participle of abstrūdō (thrust away, conceal); itself from ab, abs (away) + trūdō (thrust, push); cognate with French abstrus and German abstrus.

[edit] Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA: /æbˈstruːs/, /əbˈstruːs/

[edit] Adjective

abstruse (comparative abstruser or more abstruse, superlative abstrusest or most abstruse)

  1. 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;
  2. (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

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


[edit] French

[edit] Adjective

abstruse

  1. feminine inflection of abstrus

[edit] Anagrams


[edit] Latin

[edit] Participle

abstrūse

  1. vocative masculine singular of abstrūsus
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Views
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox
In other languages