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Webster 1913 Edition


Elope

E-lope′

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Eloped
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Eloping
.]
[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
,
Verb.
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.
Great numbers of them [the women] have
eloped
from their allegiance.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition


Elope

ELO'PE

,
Verb.
I.
[Eng. to leap.]
1.
To run away; to depart from one's proper place or station privately or without permission; to quit, without permission or right, the station in which one is placed by law or duty. Particularly and appropriately, to run away or depart from a husband, and live with an adulterer, as a married woman; or to quit a father's house, privately or without permission, and marry or live with a gallant, as an unmarried woman.
2.
To run away; to escape privately; to depart, without permission, as a son from a father's house, or an apprentice from his master's service.

Definition 2024


elope

elope

English

Alternative forms

  • ellope (obsolete)

Verb

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 The Piozzi Letters: Correspondence of Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1784-1821 (formerly Mrs. Thrale), Volume 4, 1805-1810 (eds. Edward A. Bloom & Lillian D. Bloom), Associated University Presses (1996), ISBN 0874133939, 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.
    • 2009, Jan Springer, Intimate Stranger, Ellora's Cave (2009), ISBN 9781419921735, 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 (2012), ISBN 9780373178216, 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
      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 Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances.

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