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elope

Pronunciation: /ɪˈləʊp/

The English word “elope” has 5 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. Of a married or engaged person, to run away from home with a paramour.
  2. 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.
  3. Of an unmarried person, to run away secretly from home in order to get married without parental or guardian consent.
  4. To escape from one's caretaker.
  5. To run away from home (for any reason).

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.

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