ELUSIVE

elusive

(adjective) skillful at eluding capture; “a cabal of conspirators, each more elusive than the archterrorist”- David Kline

baffling, elusive, knotty, problematic, problematical, tough

(adjective) making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe; “a baffling problem”; “I faced the knotty problem of what to have for breakfast”; “a problematic situation at home”

elusive

(adjective) difficult to describe; “a haunting elusive odor”

elusive, subtle

(adjective) difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze; “his whole attitude had undergone a subtle change”; “a subtle difference”; “that elusive thing the soul”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

elusive (comparative more elusive, superlative most elusive)

Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.

Difficult to make precise.

Rarely seen.

Source: Wiktionary

E*lu"sive, a.

Definition: Tending to elude; using arts or deception to escape; adroitly escaping or evading; eluding the grasp; fallacious. Elusive of the bridal day, she gives Fond hopes to all, and all with hopes deceives. Pope.

– E*lu"sive*ly, adv.

– E*lu"sive*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition