All 5 Uses of

elude
in
Frankenstein - 1831 version

Besides, the strange nature of the animal would elude all pursuit, even if I were so far credited as to persuade my relatives to commence it.
p. 79.2

elude = avoid (get away from)

My rage was without bounds; I sprang on him.... He easily eluded me and said, "Be calm!"
p. 102.8 *

eluded = avoided (got away from)

I would have seized him, but he eluded me and quitted the house with precipitation.
p. 173.4

I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake.
p. 200.3

I darted towards the spot from which the sound proceeded, but the devil eluded my grasp.
p. 206.9

Definitions:

(1) (elude as in: she eluded the police)
to avoid, or get away from
in various senses, including:
- "She eluded the police."
- "She eluded danger and finally arrived safely at home."
- "She always messes up, but some how eludes taking responsibility."
(2) (elude as in: your point eludes me)
to escape understanding, memory, or achievement
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

All the meanings of elude are a variation (often metaphorically) of not being able to get a hold of something.