Knowing the proper definitions of terms is essential in academic writing to guarantee precise communication of concepts. In academic settings where technical terms are common, a limited comprehension of a term’s true meaning can cause misunderstandings. This article thoroughly examines the etymology, definition, and proper application of the term “abstruse,” along with several examples.
Use of “abstruse” in a sentence
The term “abstruse” grammatically functions as an adjective and refers to something difficult to understand due to its complexity. Abstruse matters are not easily accessible to most people and may require specialized knowledge or study to fully grasp.
Examples
- The philosopher’s theories were often too abstruse for the general public.
- He struggled with the abstruse language in the ancient manuscript.
- The mathematician’s proof was abstruse, filled with advanced concepts.
How to spell “abstruse” correctly
The term “abstruse” comes from the Latin word “abstrūsus,” which means “hidden” or “concealed.” This Latin term is derived from the verb “abstrūdere,” meaning “to conceal” or “to push away.” The Latin verb is composed of two parts:
- “ab-,” Latin root word meaning “away from”
- “trūdere,” meaning “to push”
This conveys the idea of pushing something away or hiding it, which aligns with the modern meaning of “abstruse” as something with a hidden meaning or something difficult to understand.
Correct spelling
abstruse
Wrong spelling
abtruse
abstruce
Synonyms for “abstruse”
If you’re unsure how to spell “abstruse,” it may help to use synonyms. This will help you gain a thorough understanding of it and use it correctly. Simultaneously, you can avoid repetition and redundancy in your academic work. The table below provides alternatives for the word “abstruse” along with numerous examples of their proper usage in sentences.
| Synonyms | Examples |
| Arcane | The professor's lecture was so abstruse that only a few students could follow along. |
| The professor's lecture was so arcane that only a few students could follow along. | |
| Esoteric | The medieval text contained many abstruse references that puzzled modern readers. |
| The medieval text contained many esoteric references that puzzled modern readers. | |
| Obscure | The philosopher's theories were often too abstruse for the general public. |
| The philosopher's theories were often too obscure for the general public. | |
| Recondite | He struggled to read the abstruse language. |
| He struggled to read the recondite language. |
FAQs
When someone is abstruse, it means that their explanations or way of thinking are difficult to understand due to their complexity or obscurity. They may communicate in a manner that is not clear to most people.
Synonyms for abstruse are: obscure, recondite, esoteric, and arcane.
An example of something abstruse could be a highly technical research paper on advanced theoretical physics. Such a paper would likely be difficult for anyone without a strong background in the subject to understand.
Obtuse relates to the slowness in understanding, whereas abstruse relates to the complexity that makes something difficult to understand.
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