allusion

plural allusions

1. countableuncountableAn indirect reference; a hint; a reference to something supposed to be known, but not explicitly mentioned.

   The influence of Lucretius on Virgil was pervasive, especially in Virgil's Georgics; and it is in clear allusion to Lucretius that Virgil wrote, “Happy is the man who can read the causes of things.”

   2014, Kathleen Kuiper [editor], Classical Authors: 500 BCE to 1100 CE

   4 more examples

   I remember, before the Dwarf left the Queen, he followed us one day into thoſe gardens, and my Nurſe having ſet me down, he and I being cloſe together, near ſome Dwarf Apple trees, I muſt need ſhew my Wit, by a ſilly Alluſion between him and the Trees, which happens to hold in their Language as it doth in ours.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), pages 226–227

   We draw the conclusion then, that the very reason why the multitude, or the world, as they were designated by the Savior, did not receive an explanation upon his parables, was, because of unbelief. To you, he says, (speaking to his disciples) it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: and why? because of the faith and confidence which they had in him. This parable was spoken to demonstrate the effects that are produced by the preaching of the word; and we believe that it has an allusion directly, to the commencement, or the setting up of the kingdom in that age[…]

   1835, Joseph Smith, Jr., Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate

   I shall reserve for my future work the discussion of these difficulties, and the tables themselves of the proportional numbers of the varying species. Dr. Hooker permits me to add, that after having carefully read my manuscript, and examined the tables, he thinks that the following statements are fairly well established. The whole subject, however, treated as it necessarily here is with much brevity, is rather perplexing, and allusions cannot be avoided to the “struggle for existence,” “divergence of character,” and other questions, hereafter to be discussed.

   1859, Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species

   In order to understand some of the allusions readers must remember that the Autobiography was originally written in the form of "epistles addressed to Mr. Robert Riddell at London, by his friend and relative," to which, in their collected form, the author had given the title "Obscurities in Private Life Developed; or, Robinson Crusoe Untravelled."

   1881, John Younger, quoting J. & J.H. Rutherfurd, “Publishers' Note”, in Autobiography of John Younger, Shoemaker, St. Boswells, Kelso, Scotland: J. & J.H. Rutherfurd, page iv