Did You Know?
Our English "lude" words ("allude," "collude," "delude," "elude," and "prelude") are based on the Latin verb "ludere," meaning "to play." "Collude" dates back to 1525 and combines "ludere" and the prefix "col-," meaning "with" or "together." "Collude" is younger than the related noun "collusion," which appeared sometime in the 14th century with the specific meaning "secret agreement or cooperation." Despite their playful history, "collude" and "collusion" have always suggested deceit or trickery rather than good-natured fun.
