Other forms: alludes, alluded, alluding
To allude is to hint at something without naming it. Allude to the incident, alluded to her past, without alluding to it.
It always takes to and the not-naming is essential — if you name the thing you are referring to it and not alluding to it, which is the distinction careful writers keep. Note elude, which sounds similar and means to escape; and that the Latin means to play with, from ludere.
1verballudeTo hint at something without naming it.
“In her speech, she alluded to problems in the company without naming anyone.”
allude is an indirect referring.
The Latin is to play, the same play that is inside illusion. To allude is to play at the thing and never once name it.
hooks ontoillusion
Latin alludere is ad plus ludere, to play. Illusion, elude and ludicrous come from the same playing.
Latin
alludere — to play with or allude
Middle French
alluder
English, today
allude
Built from
From Middle French alluder, from Latin alludere (“to play with or allude”), from ad + ludere (“to play”). See also al-.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA