0

elude (v.) = 1530s, "delude, make a fool of," from Latin eludere "finish play, win at play; escape from or parry (a blow), make a fool of, mock, frustrate; win from at play," from assimilated form of ex- "out, away" (see ex-) + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). Sense of "evade" is first recorded 1610s in a figurative sense, 1630s in a literal one. [...]

How did the 2 bolded morphemes combine to mean the modern definition of 'elude'?

Please help me dig deeper than the definition, which I already understand and so ask NOT about. Please expose and explain this etymology's (hidden and missing) semantic drifts and links, which I struggle to connect. What are some right ways of interpreting the etymology, to understand how the semantic jumps abstracted and severed from the original literal meaning? What bridges the jumps with the original?

Improve this question
4
  • Some right ways?
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Jun 17, 2015 at 8:25
  • You imply that different views on the true etymology may be correct. Only one (at most) can be (though it may not be known which one).
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Jun 17, 2015 at 16:37
  • @EdwinAshworth Thanks. I overlooked that error; I'll fix it for futurity.
    – user50720
    Jun 17, 2015 at 17:09
  • How are these even disconnected in literal meaning? Maybe you only think of "play" being sweet and innocent, when it can be more? "I played (or played out) inspector Doe by misdirecting him" "i eluded inspector Doe by misdirecting him"
    – user662852
    Oct 15, 2015 at 11:06

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

The prefix "out-" can be found in many contexts in English where it means "to do better (than an opponent)", as in, you can "outrun", "outwit" or "outdo" someone.

Improve this answer
1

elude -> parry a blow -> avoid a blow -> avoid a blow by fooling one's opponent -> avoid enough blows by fooling one's opponent and so defeat him -> mock the loser for being fooled into not being able to land a blow

However plausible, how this chain of thought actually came about is unknown because those are the connotations the Romans gave to eludere. In other words, I think English usage is the wrong place to look. English adopted the Latin meanings.

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks, but please enlarge on the semantic drift elude -> parry a blow. How did the 2 bolded morphemes in my OP, combine to mean 'parry a blow'?
    – user50720
    Jun 22, 2015 at 2:19

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.