Definition of ABSTRUSE (original) (raw)
formal
: difficult to comprehend : recondite
the abstruse calculations of mathematicians
abstruse concepts/ideas/theories
Did you know?
Look closely at the following Latin verbs, all of which are derived from the verb trudere ("to push, thrust"): extrudere, intrudere, obtrudere, protrudere. Remove the last two letters of each of these and you get an English descendant whose meaning involves pushing or thrusting. Another trudere offspring, abstrudere, meaning "to push away" or "to conceal," gave English abstrude, meaning "to thrust away," but that 17th-century borrowing has fallen out of use. An abstrudere descendant that has survived is abstruse, an adjective that recalls the meaning of its Latin parent abstrūsus, meaning "concealed."
Synonyms
Examples of abstruse in a Sentence
Her subject matter is abstruse. you're not the only one who finds Einstein's theory of relativity abstruse
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Tunnelling, meanwhile, is an abstruse turn on a classic skill exemplified by the finest Dodger pitcher of them all, Sandy Koufax. —
Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 At the heart of the progress has been von Neumann’s abstruse research. —Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024 Unimaginative critics misunderstood how 300 abstracted the West’s war impulse, but now Snyder offers facile, abstruse justifications for his characters’ erotic and violent impulses. —Armond White, National Review, 9 Aug. 2024 In contrast to the abstruse beauty of the séance room, the primary bedroom and bath, which the homeowner calls the goddess suite, are all lightness and elegance, a pale-hued sanctuary that casts a spell of serenity tinged with decadence. —Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abstruse 
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin abstrūsus "concealed, recondite," from past participle of abstrūdere "to conceal," from abs- (variant of ab- ab- before c- and t-) + trūdere "to push, thrust" — more at threat entry 1
First Known Use
circa 1549, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of abstruse was circa 1549
Dictionary Entries Near abstruse
Cite this Entry
“Abstruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstruse. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 12 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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