Indirect references or hints to something without directly mentioning it; plural of allusion.
From Latin 'allusio' (a playing toward), from 'alludere' (to play toward). The '-ions' ending is the standard plural marker for Latin-derived nouns.
Literary analysis is basically 'catching allusions'—recognizing that when Shakespeare's Hamlet talks of mirrors, he's alluding to themes of self-deception and reality, making readers feel clever for getting the reference.
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