elusive |iˈlo͞osiv| adjective difficult to find, catch, or achieve: success will become ever more elusive.
• difficult to remember or recall: the elusive thought he had had moments before.
subdue |səbˈd(y)o͞o| verb (subdues, subduing, subdued) [ with obj. ] overcome, quieten, or bring under control (a feeling or person): she managed to subdue an instinct to applaud.
• bring (a country or people) under control by force: Charles went on a campaign to subdue the Saxons.
continuum |kənˈtinyo͞oəm| noun (pl. continua |-yo͞oə| ) [ usu. in sing. ] a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct: at the fast end of the fast-slow continuum.
spur |spər| noun
1 a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.
• a hard spike on the back of the leg of a cock or male game bird, used in fighting.
• a steel point fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
2 a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive: profit was both the spur and the reward of enterprise.
3 a thing that projects or branches off from a main body, in particular:
• a projection from a mountain or mountain range.
• a short branch road or rail line.
• Botany a slender tubular projection from the base of a flower, e.g., a honeysuckle or orchid, typically containing nectar.
• a short fruit-bearing side shoot.
• Medicine a short pointed growth or process on a part of the body. verb (spurs, spurring, spurred) [ with obj. ] urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides: she spurred her horse toward the hedge.
• give an incentive or encouragement to (someone): her sons' passion for computer games spurred her on to set up a software store.
• cause or promote the development of; stimulate: governments cut interest rates to spur