Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Flee
Flee
(flē)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fled
(flĕd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fleeing
.] [OE.
fleon
, fleen
, AS. fleón
(imperf
. fleáh
); akin to D. vlieden
, OHG. & OS. fliohan
, G. fliehen
, Icel. flȳja
(imperf. flȳði
), Dan. flye
, Sw. fly
(imperf. flydde
), Goth. þliuhan
. √84. Cf. Flight
.] To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; – usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.
[He] cowardly
fled
, not having struck one stroke. Shakespeare
Flee
fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18.
So
fled
his enemies my warlike father. Shakespeare
☞ When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. “Whither shall I fly to ’scape their hands?” , 5.
Shak.
See Fly
, Verb.
I.
Webster 1828 Edition
Flee
FLEE
, v.i.1.
To run with rapidity, as from danger; to attempt to escape; to hasten from danger or expected evil. The enemy fled at the first fire.Arise, take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt. Matt. 2.
2.
To depart; to leave; to hasten away.Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4.
3.
To avoid; to keep at a distance from.Flee fornication; flee from idolatry. 1Cor. 6:10.
To flee the question or from the question, in legislation, is said of a legislator who, when a question is to be put to the house, leaves his seat to avoid the dilemma of voting against his conscience, or giving an unpopular vote. In the phrases in which this verb appears to be transitive, there is really an ellipsis.