Dictionary

abstruse en · ADJ

Pronunciation

/əbˈstɹʉs/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
(Southern-England) audio
/æb-/ (Canada, General-American)
/əbˈstɹuːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/əbˈstɹus/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

PIE word *h₂epó Learned borrowing from Latin abstrūsus (“concealed, hidden; having been concealed”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of abstrūdō (“to conceal, hide; to push or thrust away”), from abs- (from ab- (prefix meaning ‘away; from; away from’)) + trūdō (“to push, shove; to thrust”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to push; to thrust”)). Cognates * Catalan abstrús * German abstrus (“abstruse”) * Italian astruso (“abstruse”) * Middle French abstruse (modern French abstrus, abstruse (“(derogatory, literary) abstruse”) * Portuguese abstruso (“abstruse”) * Spanish abstruso (“abstruse”)

Meanings

(formal) Difficult to comprehend or understand; obscure.
- 'Tis certain, that the eaſy and obvious Philoſophy vvill always, vvith the Generality of Mankind, have the Preference to the accurate and abſtruſe; and by many vvill be recommended, not only as more agreeable, but more uſeful than the other. 1748, [David Hume], “Essay I. Of the Different Species of Philosophy.”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 3:
- A second rescript followed, commanding all bishops not merely to subscribe the dominant opinions on these profound and abstruse topics, but to condemn their authors, Pelagius and Cœlestius, as irreclaimable heretics, and this under pain of deprivation and banishment. 1854, Henry Hart Milman, “Pelagianism”, in History of Latin Christianity; […], volume I, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, book II, page 127:
- Some time the good makithe an ile end⸝ ãd the ile a godd. In this opiniõ⸝ and in ſcrutable miſterie be werithe all his wittes⸝ and at the end of his cogitacions⸝ fyndithe more abſtruſe⸝ and doutfull obiections thẽ at the beginning⸝ […] [1548], Joanne Hopper [i.e., John Hooper], “Curiositie”, in A Declaration of the Ten Holy Cõmaundementes of Allmygthye God […], [Zurich]: [Christoph Froschauer], →OCLC, page CCXVIII:
- The beſt VVay to learn any Science, is to begin vvith a regular Syſtem, or a ſhort and plain Scheme of that Science, vvell dravvn up into a narrovv Compaſs, omitting the deeper and more abſtruſe Parts of it, and that alſo under the Conduct and Inſtruction of ſome ſkilful Teacher. 1741, I[saac] Watts, “Of the Sciences, and Their Use in Particular Professions”, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC, paragraph I, page 316:
- Thoſe propoſitions relating to the Moon's motion, which are demonſtrated in the Principia [by Isaac Newton], do generally depend on calculations very intricate and abſtruſe, the truth of which is not eaſily examined, even by thoſe that are moſt skilful; […] 1729, John Machin, “The Laws of the Moon’s Motion According to Gravity”, in Isaac Newton, translated by Andrew Motte, The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. […] , volume II, London: […] Benjamin Motte, […], →OCLC, page 4:
- In a thousand ways he smoothed for me the path of knowledge, and made the most abstruse inquiries clear and facile to my apprehension. 1831 October 31, Mary W[ollstonecraft] Shelley, chapter IV, in Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus (Standard Novels; IX), 3rd edition, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 36:
- After the subject (victim, if you like) had read say thirty of the best solid novels of the twentieth century, I think I should draw him to the more abstruse modern novels and stories. 1918, Walter Lionel George, A Novelist on Novels:
- Be leſs abſtruſe, my riddling days are paſt. 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 65, line 75:
- The objects of geometrical enquiry are ſo intirely abſracted from thoſe purſuits vvhich ſtir up and put in motion the unruly paſſions of the human heart, that mankind vvithout difficulty adopt not only the more ſimple theorems of the ſcience, but even thoſe abſtruſe paradoxes, vvhich hovvever they may appear ſuſceptible of demonſtration, are at variance vvith the natural conceptions vvhich the mind, vvithout the aid of philoſophy, vvould be led to entertain upon the ſubject. 1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number XXXI. The Same Subject Continued [Concerning Taxation].”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC, page 191:
(formal, obsolete) Concealed or hidden; secret.
- O vvho is he that could carrie nevves to our olde father, that thou vvert but aliue, although thou vvert hidden in the moſt abſtruſe dungeons of Barbarie; for his riches, my brothers and mine vvould fetch thee from thence. 1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], “Which Speakes of that which after Befell in the Inne; and of Sundry Other Things Worthy to be Knowne”, in Thomas Shelton, transl., The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC, part 4, page 500:
- Mean while th’ Eternal eye, whoſe ſight diſcernes / Abſtruſeſt thoughts, from forth his holy Mount / And from within the golden Lamps that burne / Nightly before him, ſaw without their light / Rebellion riſing, ſaw in whom, how ſpred / Among the ſons of Morn, what multitudes / Were banded to oppoſe his high Decree; […] 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 709–714:
- [T]he abſtruſeſt Things / VVhich in the Mindes dark Temper neſtling ly, / By you expoſed are to every Eye. 1648, Joseph Beaumont, “Canto XVII. The Mortification. Stanza 182.”, in Psyche: Or Loves Mysterie, […], London: […] John Dawson for George Boddington, […], →OCLC, page 328, column 2:

Forms

Spelling	Features	Source
abstrusest	Degree=Sup	lexicographic
more abstruse	Degree=Cmp	lexicographic
most abstruse	Degree=Sup	lexicographic
abstruser	Degree=Cmp	lexicographic

Translations (55)

it astruso (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 難解 /难解 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · hu homályos (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 秘 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · fr abscons (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · bg труден за разбиране (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 深奧 /深奥 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · fi vaikeaselkoinen (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · mi ākahukahu (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 艱澀 /艰涩 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · fi vaikeatajuinen (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cy cymhleth (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · kk ғаламат (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · tl baliwag (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · te గూఢము (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · el δυσνόητος (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ca abstrús (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · nl onbevattelijk (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · el ασαφής (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · pl mętny (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · hi बारीक (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ja 晦渋 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · vi huyền diệu (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · sv abstrus (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · bg неясен (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 艱深 /艰深 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · sq thellë (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ko 심오(深奧)한 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · sv dunkel (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · grc ποικῐ́λος (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 玄祕 /玄秘 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 玄妙 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cy astrus (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ru мудрёный (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · fr abstrus (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · oc abstrús (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ja 難解 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · is torskilinn (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · hu elvont (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cy dyrys (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · ro confuz (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · de abstrus (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · es abstruso (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 深邃 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 深長 /深长 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · es conceptuoso (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · hu obskúrus (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · enm mysty (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · de unfassbar (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · nl ondoorgrondelijk (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · it ermetico (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · gv neuvaghtal (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · cmn 晦澀 /晦涩 (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · sv svårfattlig (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure) · pt abstruso (difficult to comprehend or understand — see also obscure)

abstruse en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (55)