v. Obs.; also askape. [The common form of ESCAPE in ME., found down to 1523, due to phonetic levelling of proclitic ĕ- and ă-: see A- pref. 9. AFr. itself had occas. ascaper for escaper. Already in 13th c. it was aphetized to SCAPE, in common use in all ages, and still a poetic form, though now written as a conscious contraction ’scape for e)scape. Cf. also ACHAPE, ATSCAPE, OFSCAPE, ASCHAPE.] = Escape.
1250. Lay., 1611. And vnneþe ascapede.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 23. Non of þe Danes askaped.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xxii. 31. Ther ascaped neuer a person.
