elope

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: e=lope

CIDE DICTIONARY

elope, v. i. [D. ontloopen to run away; pref. ont- (akin to G. ent-, AS. and-, cf. E. answer) + loopen to run; akin to E. leap. See Leap, v. t.].

 To run away, or escape privately, from the place or station to which one is bound by duty; -- said especially of a woman or a man, either married or unmarried, who runs away with a paramour or a sweetheart.  [1913 Webster]
"Great numbers of them [the women] have eloped from their allegiance."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

elope, v.intr.
1 run away to marry secretly, esp. without parental consent.
2 run away with a lover.

Derivative

elopement n. eloper n.

Etymology

AF aloper perh. f. a ME form alope, rel. to LEAP

THESAURUS

elope

abscond, absquatulate, beat a retreat, bolt, clear out, cut and run, decamp, depart, desert, flee, fly, fugitate, go AWOL, jump, jump bail, levant, make off, run, run away, run away from, run away with, run for it, run off, show the heels, skedaddle, skip, skip out, slip the cable, take French leave, take flight, take to flight, take wing, turn tail

ROGET THESAURUS

elope

Avoidance

VB abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt, not do, maintain the even tenor of one's way, eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with, keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off, take no part in, have no hand in, avoid, shun, steer clear of, keep clear of, fight shy of, keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance, keep out of the way, get out of the way, evade, elude, turn away from, set one's face against, deny oneself, shrink back, hang back, hold back, draw back, recoil, retire, flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to, beat a retreat, turn tail, turn one's back, take to one's heels, runaway, run for one's life, cut and run, be off like a shot, fly, flee, fly away, flee away, run away from, take flight, take to flight, desert, elope, make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off, break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from, slip cable, part company, turn one's heel, sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take French leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulat, cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce, escape, go away, abandon, reject, lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance, throw off the scent, play at hide and seek, Adj, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild.