Insaisissable (en. Elusive)

[ɛ̃.sɛ.zi.sabl]

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

adjective

Difficult to understand or grasp intellectually.

The beauty of this artwork is so elusive that it leaves everyone perplexed.

La beauté de cet artwork est tellement insaisissable qu'elle laisse chacun perplexe.

Escaping all attempts at control or seizure.

The human mind is sometimes elusive, and even the best psychologists struggle to explain it.

L'esprit humain est parfois insaisissable, et même les meilleurs psychologues peinent à l'expliquer.

Difficult to catch physically.

The fish was elusive, slipping between my fingers.

Le poisson était insaisissable, il glissait entre mes doigts.

Formed from the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and the verb 'to seize.'

elusive like a dream

difficult to catch or achieve

insaisissable comme un rêve

elusive ideal

something inaccessible or hard to reach

idéal insaisissable

seize

to take or understand

saisir

fugitive

that escapes or cannot be caught

fugitif

evasive

that avoids giving clear answers

évasive

Difficult to follow.

This trend is elusive; I can't get used to it.

Cette tendance est insaisissable, je n'arrive pas à m'y habituer.

Impossible to completely understand.

This concept seems elusive to me, even after reading it several times.

Ce concept me semble insaisissable, même après l'avoir lu plusieurs fois.