Also 6 ellope. [In AF. (14th c.) aloper, perh. f. ME. *alope(n, pa. pple. of *aleapen (f. A- pref. 4 + LEAP) = MDu. ontlōpen, Ger. entlaufen to run away; cf. OE. úthléapan, the technical word for the ‘escaping’ of a thief. The assumed ME. *alope however might stand for ilope, pa. pple. of leapen in same sense; cf. ‘þe wicke giv [was] a wei i-lope’ (Childh. Jes. 972).
The current hypothesis of derivation from MDu. ontlōpen seems improbable on account of the early appearance of the word in AF.
1. a. Law. Of a wife: To run away from her husband in the company of a paramour. b. In popular language also (and more frequently) said of a woman running away from home with a lover for the purpose of being married.
[1338. in Year-bks 11–12 Edw. III. (Horw.), 587. En bref de dower plede fut qil alopa de soun baroun.
1538. Nottingham Borough Rec., III. 214. Ipsum Katherinam ad elopandum de viro suo … tentavit.]
1628. Coke, On Litt., 32 a. If the wife elope from her husband,… she shal lose her dower.
1697. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), IV. 323. He sets forth divers accusations against his lady, who is elop’d from him.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, IV. We … must elope methodically, madam.
1818. Cruise, Digest, I. 204. A man by deed granted his wife to another, with whom she eloped and lived in adultery.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, III. 230. He endeavoured to prevail upon his quondam mistress to elope with him.
1884. Law Reports Chanc. Div., XXV. 483. On the following day Captain Sampson and Miss Wall eloped.
2. gen. To run away, escape, abscond.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. iv. 9. She left me quight, And to my brother did elope streightway.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 260. In close catasta shut, past hope Of wit or valour to elope.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., II. xlvii. 188. When the Term of Payment came, they eloped.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lxxxii. The … valet … eloped with all the cash and moveables he could lay his hands on.
3. transf. and fig. (Chiefly in nonce-uses.)
1726. Swift, To a Lady. But with raillery to nettle … Never lets your mind elope.
1785. Cowper, Tiroc., 876. Since thy strength must with thy years elope.
1817. Keats, Ep. C. C. Clarke. Spenserian vowels that elope with ease.
