TO SPIRIT AWAY, verb. phr. (old).—To kidnap (B. E. and GROSE). Hence SPIRITER = an abductor.
1675. COTTON, Burlesque upon Burlesque: or, The Scoffer Scofft, 253.
| Whilst the poor boy, half dead with fear, | |
| Writh’d back to view his SPIRITER. |
1727. ARBUTHNOT and POPE, Martinus Scriblerus. The queen’s ministry; who, either out of jealousy or envy, had him SPIRITED AWAY, and carried abroad as a dangerous person, without any regard to the known laws of the kingdom.
