elope

Meaning

Verb

• To run away from home with a paramour.
• 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.
• To run away from home (for any reason).

Origin

• From Anglo-Norman aloper ("to abduct, run away"), from a Germanic source, either Middle Dutch ontlopen ("to run away") or a predecessor thereof. Equivalent to and- + lope as well as and- + leap (these being doublets). Cognate with German entlaufen ("to escape"), Danish undløbe ("to run away"). More at lope.