allude

[uh-lood] /əˈlud/
verb (used without object), alluded, alluding.
1.
to refer casually or indirectly; make an allusion (usually followed by to):
He often alluded to his poverty.
2.
to contain a casual or indirect reference (usually followed by to):
The letter alludes to something now forgotten.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin allūdere to play beside, make a playful allusion to, equivalent to al- al- + lūdere to play
Related forms
preallude, verb (used without object), prealluded, prealluding.
Can be confused
allowed, allude, aloud, elude.
Synonyms
hint, intimate, suggest.
Examples from the web for allude
  • Throughout their correspondence, they allude to the lyrics, attesting to their powerful long-distance connection.
  • To the general public these contorted shapes appear to allude to nature.
  • Silk drapes stitched with tiny dragonflies allude to her love of nature and the outdoors.
  • Horner doesn't hesitate to allude to classical compositions.
  • In the political reality you allude to, corporations call the shots.
  • And big money is what recruiters often allude to in their pitches.
  • The ideological divide that you allude to is just not prevalent here.
  • While some of the puzzle books have clues that allude to the nature of the final picture, some do not.
  • Cook said nothing to even remotely allude to a coming mid-sized touch screen devise.
  • The new work seems to allude to old and new styles of courtship.
British Dictionary definitions for allude

allude

/əˈluːd/
verb (intransitive) foll by to
1.
to refer indirectly, briefly, or implicitly
2.
(loosely) to mention
elude
Word Origin
C16: from Latin allūdere, from lūdere to sport, from lūdus a game
Word Origin and History for allude
v.

1530s, "mock," from Middle French alluder or directly from Latin alludere "to play, sport, joke, jest," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). Meaning "make an indirect reference, point in passing" is from 1570s. Related: Alluded; alluding.