English[]
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.
Pronunciation[]
Adjective[]
Abstruse (comparative abstrus, superlative er)
Positive |
Comparative |
- 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
Derived terms[]
- abstrusely
- abstruseness
Related terms[]
- abstrude
- abstrusion
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.
Translations to be checked
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External links[]
- Abstruse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- Abstruse in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
French[]
Adjective[]
Abstruse
- feminine inflection of abstrus
Anagrams[]
- abersstu,
- arbustes
ar:abstruse fa:abstruse fr:abstruse ko:abstruse io:abstruse it:abstruse kn:abstruse hu:abstruse ml:abstruse pt:abstruse fi:abstruse sv:abstruse ta:abstruse te:abstruse th:abstruse tr:abstruse uk:abstruse vi:abstruse