abstruse
Use Abstruse in a sentence
adjective
1.
hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.
2.
Obsolete. secret; hidden.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin abstrūsus thrust away, concealed (past participle of abstrūdere), equivalent to abs- abs- + trūd- thrust + -tus past participle suffix
1590–1600; < Latin abstrūsus thrust away, concealed (past participle of abstrūdere), equivalent to abs- abs- + trūd- thrust + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
ab·struse·ly, adverb
ab·struse·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. incomprehensible, unfathomable, arcane.
1. incomprehensible, unfathomable, arcane.
Antonyms
1. clear, uncomplicated, simple; obvious.
1. clear, uncomplicated, simple; obvious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To abstruse
00:10
Abstruse
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is incorrigible. Does it mean:
| obtained or characterized by stealth |
| not able to be corrected |
Collins
World English Dictionary
abstruse (əbˈstruːs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| not easy to understand; recondite; esoteric | |
| [C16: from Latin abstrūsus thrust away, concealed, from abs- | |
| ab'strusely | |
| —adv | |
| ab'struseness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
abstruse
c.1600, from L. abstrusus, pp. of abstrudere "conceal," lit. "to thrust away," from ab- "away" + trudere "to thrust, push" (see extrusion).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult for the economic operators to comprehend the abstruse provisions correctly.
Though abstruse, these definitions could shape the long-term future of genetic testing.
If your initial topic seems abstruse, consider the motivation that led you to it in the first place.
He often took other people's briefs, many times on abstruse issues, and made them snappy and compelling.
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