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illusive

[ih-loo-siv]
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adjective
  1. illusory.
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Origin of illusive

First recorded in 1670–80; illus(ory) + -ive
Related formsil·lu·sive·ly, adverbil·lu·sive·ness, nounnon·il·lu·sive, adjectivenon·il·lu·sive·ly, adverbnon·il·lu·sive·ness, nounun·il·lu·sive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for illusive

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Or was this only an illusive colour thrown on her skin by the red firelight?

    Green Mansions

    W. H. Hudson

  • We deal not so much with weights and measures as with illusive inaccuracies.

    The Blue Wall

    Richard Washburn Child

  • The thing was too vague and illusive to become a purpose at all.

  • Oratory is as stealthy and as illusive as a weazel at night.

    The Jucklins

    Opie Read

  • It had come back, but now there was a change—mysterious, illusive.

    The Octopus

    Frank Norris

Word Origin and History for illusive

adj.

"deceptive, illusory," formed in English 1670s, from stem of illusion + -ive; cf. also illusory.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper