An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well‑known person, place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art. It’s used to evoke associated meanings and enrich the text. “He’s a real Romeo with the …

What is the word origin of allusion? An allusion is not a play on words —that would be a pun—but allusion does come from the Latin verb allūdere, which in turn combines the verb lūdere, meaning …

Allusions can be direct or indirect, meaning that they might explicitly state the name of the thing they're referring to, or they might hint at it in other, subtler ways.

In a wider, more informal context, an allusion is a passing or casually short statement indicating broader meaning. It is an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication, such as "In the …

Allusions are literary winks—subtle references to famous people, places, events, or works that add depth to writing. They make your words pop with cultural resonance, but only if you know how to use …

Allusion is when an author references something external to his or her work in a passing manner. For example, an author may reference a musical artist or song, a great thinker or philosopher, the author …

Allusions use the original reference as a point of departure, but they can also change the referent and add meaning retroactively. Allusions create intertextuality in this way.

May 13, 2025 · Allusions make writing or speech more powerful, relatable, and emotional by connecting to shared knowledge. Examples of allusions include “Achilles’ heel” (a fatal weakness) or “Waterloo” …

Dec 9, 2024 · God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son!” This is a direct allusion to the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22.

The word allusion comes from the late Latin allusio meaning “a play on words” or “game” and is a derivative of the Latin word alludere, meaning “to play around” or “to refer to mockingly.” In traditional …