elope
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Alternative forms
- ellope (obsolete)
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman aloper (“to abduct, run away”), itself borrowed from Proto-West Germanic *andihlaupan (“to run away”). Equivalent to and- + lope as well as and- + leap (these being doublets). More at lope.
Pronunciation
Verb
elope (third-person singular simple present elopes, present participle eloping, simple past and past participle eloped)
- (intransitive, of a married or engaged person) To run away from home with a paramour.
- (intransitive, of an unmarried person) To run away secretly for the purpose of getting married with one's intended spouse; to marry in a quick or private fashion, especially without a public period of engagement.
- 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice:
- My younger sister has left all her friends-- has eloped; has thrown herself into the power of-- of Mr. Wickham.
- 1996, “Introduction”, in Edward A. Bloom, Lillian D. Bloom, editors, The Piozzi Letters: Correspondence of Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1784-1821 (formerly Mrs. Thrale), Volume 4, 1805-1810, Associated University Presses, →ISBN, page 30:
- Although Cecilia was the youngest of the surviving Thrale daughters, she had been the first to marry, eloping to Gretna Green in 1795 with John Meredith Mostyn of neighboring Llewesog Lodge. Both were underage.
- 2005, J. K. Rowling, “An Excess of Phlegm” (chapter 5), in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter; 6), Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, →ISBN, page 92:
- "[Molly:] —It was the same last time [You-Know-Who] was powerful, people eloping left right and centre– —Including you and Dad, said Ginny slyly."
- (intransitive, dated) To run away from home (for any reason).
- 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia:
- He had been intended by his father for trade, but his spirit, soaring above the occupation for which he was designed, from repining led him to resist, and from resisting, to rebel. He eloped from his friends, and contrived to enter the army.
- c. 1794, Jane Austen, “[Lady Susan.] XVI. Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.”, in J[ames] E[dward] Austen[-]Leigh, A Memoir of Jane Austen: […] to which is Added Lady Susan and Fragments of Two Other Unfinished Tales by Miss Austen, 2nd edition, London: Richard Bentley and Son, […], published 1871, →OCLC, pages 234–235:
- That horrid girl of mine has been trying to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarks in Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances.
- 1931, Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings:
- If we'd been a bit quicker, we could have caught Gowan before he eloped
Derived terms
Translations
run away with a paramour
|
run away to get married
|
Further reading
Pronunciation
Noun
elope
- his/her liver
Inflection
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| First person | cvlope | polope |
| Second person | celope | |
| Third person | elope | |
| Indefinite | estelope | |
Possessive inflection of elope (inalienable)
References
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