ABSTRUSE

abstruse, deep, recondite

(adjective) difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge; “the professor’s lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them”; “a deep metaphysical theory”; “some recondite problem in historiography”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

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

Difficult to comprehend or understand. [from late 16th c.]

Synonyms: esoteric, obscure, recondite

(obsolete) Concealed or hidden out of the way; secret. [from late 16th c. until mid 18th c.]

Usage notes

More abstruse and most abstruse are the preferred forms over abstruser and abstrusest.

Synonyms

• (concealed): clandestine, secret, surreptitious; See also covert

• (difficult to comprehend): esoteric, obscure, recondite; See also incomprehensible

Anagrams

• Staubers, Straubes, surbates, surbeats

Source: Wiktionary


Ab*struse", a. Etym: [L. abstrusus, p. p. of abstrudere to thrust away, conceal; ab, abs + trudere to thrust; cf. F. abstrus. See Threat.]

1. Concealed or hidden out of the way. [Obs.] The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. Milton.

2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or understood; recondite; as, abstruse learning. Profound and abstruse topics. Milman.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

15 March 2025

TRUNCATION

(noun) the replacement of an edge or solid angle (as in cutting a gemstone) by a plane (especially by a plane that is equally inclined to the adjacent faces)


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