English
illusive
Illusive comes from Medieval Latin illūsīvus ‘deceptive, illusive, illusory’.
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500illūsīvus‘deceptive, illusive, illusory’
- Englishearliest quotation 1912illusive
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500illūsīvus‘deceptive, illusive, illusory’
- Englishearliest quotation 1912illusive
Earliest quotation: 1912, Zane Grey, New York: “[…] he could not catch the illusive thing that…”
Every English word from Medieval Latin illūsīvus
Today it means
adj Subject to or pertaining to an illusion, often used in the sense of an unrealistic expectation or an unreachable goal or outcome.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Medieval Latin illūsīvus / illusive