allusion
UK: əˈluːʒ(ə)n | US: əˈluːʒən
n. an indirect or passing reference to something, often a literary or historical work
n. a subtle hint or suggestion
allusion = al<toward> + lus<play> + ion<noun suffix>
- al (from Latin ad-, meaning "toward")
- lus (from Latin ludere, meaning "to play")
- ion (noun-forming suffix indicating action or result)
Etymology Origin:
The word "allusion" traces back to Latin alludere ("to play toward" or "to refer to lightly"), combining ad- (toward) and ludere (to play). Over time, it evolved in English to denote indirect references, particularly in literature, where a writer "plays" with meaning by hinting at something without stating it outright.
The novel is full of biblical allusions.
Her speech contained an allusion to recent political events.
He made an allusion to his childhood without going into detail.
The painting’s title is an allusion to a famous myth.
Detect the subtle allusions in the poet’s work to fully appreciate it.