Question

The word "abstruse" contains the root "trus", but the word means "difficult to understand." Explain how "abstruse" might have acquired its meaning?

Answer 1

• When it comes to English language, there are some words which are not a real word but which are created by making use of different word. Such words are called as word parts.
• For example- Jealousish is not a word, but by adding ‘ish’ at the end of the word jealous it becomes a word part.
• Word parts are of three types- affixes, bases, and roots. Here we will talk about the word ‘abstruse’ which contains the root ‘true.’
• Root gives the word a basic meaning. Abstruse have acquired its meaning from the Latin word ‘trudere’ which means to push away.
• Till late 17th century it was the word ‘Abstrudere’ which was being used. Later the word ‘Abstruse’ survived which means difficult to understand.