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elope Definition

elope (ē lōp′, i-)

intransitive verb eloped′, elop′·ing

  1. to run away secretly, esp. in order to get married
  2. to run away; escape; abscond

Etymology: Anglo-Fr aloper, prob. < ME *aleapen, to leap up, run away < OE ahleapan (infl. ? by ON hlaupa, to run > lope) < a-, away + hleapan, to run, leap

elope Related Forms

elope′·ment noun elop′·er noun

elope Synonyms

elope

v.

run away with, run off, escape with a lover, slip out, fly, flee, abscond, go secretly, skip out*, go to Gretna Green*.

elope Usage Examples

Object

  • couple: Then it's on to Gretna Green, where many an eloping English couple have been married.
  • lover: For Alexander, it is a match more heavenly than many made by eloping lovers over the anvil.

Preposition: with

  • man: Shylock, has lost his beloved daughter when she elopes with a man who belongs to a virulently anti-Semitic society.
  • girl: In order to thwart his rivals Sheridan eloped with the girl to France, secretly marrying her.
  • woman: Ricardo's infidelities are seen as far more shocking precisely because he has chosen to elope with an Australian woman.
  • wife: Thirdly, a man may not elope with an exchange wife.

Infinitive complement

  • marry: He eloped to marry his true love at Gretna Green.
  • escape: Perhaps his or your parents didn't approve or you eloped to escape the fuss or expense of a big wedding?

Modifying Another Word

  • together: The two Ladies, however, found means to elope together.
  • then: He stayed in Venice a few years, then eloped to Naples with his patron's daughter.

Browse dictionary entries near elope

  1. ‹ elongation
  2. ‹ elongate
  3. ‹ Eloise
  4. ‹ eloign
  5. ‹ Elohist
  6. ‹ Elohim
  7. ‹ elodea
  8. ‹ elocution
  9. ‹ Elmer
  10. ‹ Elman
  1. eloquence ›
  2. eloquent ›
  3. Elsa ›
  4. else ›
  5. elsewhere ›
  6. Elsie ›
  7. Elsinore ›
  8. Eltit, Diamela ›
  9. Elton, Ben ›
  10. Elton, Sir Geoffrey Rudolph ›