Wiktionary

elope

English edit

WOTD – 14 February 2013

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

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 edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɪˈləʊp/, /ɛˈləʊp/
    • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ɪˈloʊp/, /ɛˈloʊp/
  • Rhymes: -əʊp

Verb edit

elope (third-person singular simple present elopes, present participle eloping, simple past and past participle eloped)

  1. (intransitive, of a married person) To run away from home with a paramour.
  2. (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."
    • 2009, Jan Springer, Intimate Stranger, Ellora's Cave, published 2009, →ISBN, page 132:
      Although they had eloped in Vegas, she'd insisted he wear a tuxedo and she buy a wedding dress at one of the local stores.
    • 2012, Shirley Jump, One Day to Find a Husband, Harlequin, published 2012, →ISBN, page 136:
      They knew each other for maybe a month before they eloped in Vegas.
  3. (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 edit

Translations edit

Further reading edit

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