allude

Allude is a verb meaning to refer to something indirectly or to hint at it without stating it explicitly. When you allude to something, you signal it by implication rather than by direct statement. It is typically used with the preposition to, as in allude to a person, an event, a document, or an idea.

Etymology and sense: Allude comes from Latin alludere, meaning to play at or to refer indirectly, formed from ad- (to) and ludere (to play). In English, the term has retained the sense of suggesting something by allusion rather than making a direct reference.

Usage and nuance: Allude is often preferred when the writer or speaker expects the audience to recognize the reference without a full explanation. It is more indirect than refer to or mention and often conveys a literary or rhetorical tone. Typical constructions include allude to something or allude to someone, and it can precede nouns, noun phrases, or clauses: “The memorandum alludes to budget constraints,” “The poem alludes to classical myths,” or “The speaker alluded to the consequences without detailing them.”

Related terms: The noun form is allusion, meaning an indirect reference. The adjective allusive describes something that tends to allude or evoke things indirectly. Allude is distinct from elude, which means to escape notice or capture, and from imply, which conveys the speaker’s intended meaning rather than an external reference.

See also: allusion, allusive, imply, hint, reference.