E*lude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Eluding.] [L. eludere, elusum; e + ludere to play: cf. F. éluder. See Ludicrous.] To avoid slyly, by artifice, stratagem, or dexterity; to escape from in a covert manner; to mock by an unexpected escape; to baffle; as, to elude an officer; to elude detection, inquiry, search, comprehension; to elude the force of an argument or a blow.

Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain,
Then, hid in shades, eludes he eager swain.

The transition from fetichism to polytheism seems a gradual process of which the stages elude close definition.

Syn. -- To evade; avoid; escape; shun; eschew; flee; mock; baffle; frustrate; foil.

• to evade, or escape from someone or something, especially by using cunning or skill
  
• to shake off a pursuer; to give someone the slip
  
• to escape understanding of; to be incomprehensible to