Alludere

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To refer indirectly to something or someone in a subtle manner
2. To make an implied or casual reference to a subject without explicit mention
3. To hint at or allude to another idea or topic through indirect suggestion

Etymology: "Alludere" is a Latin verb meaning "to play with" or "to joke at," built from "ad" ("to, at") and "ludere" ("to play"). The sense of playing at something gave rise to the idea of touching on a subject lightly, without stating it outright. In Latin, the verb could describe a game or a light jest, and the sense of a sly, sideways reference developed from that playful base. English took the word in the sense of referring to something indirectly, and that is the meaning it keeps today: a writer who alludes to a myth expects the reader to make the connection without being told.

Synonyms: allude, refer, hint

Antonyms: deny, ignore