ə̇ˈlōp, ēˈ- intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Anglo-French aloper, perhaps from a- (from Old French es-, from Latin ex- ) + Middle Dutch lōpen to run; akin to Old English hlēapan to leap, jump, run — more at leap
1.
a. of a married woman : to run away from one's husband with a lover
b. of an unmarried woman : to run away from one's home with the unannounced intention of getting married
she eloped with her second cousin and they were married in the next state
c. of two persons of opposite sex : to go away secretly with the intention of marrying or establishing a more or less permanent relation of cohabitation
her mother wanted a big wedding but the young people decided to elope
2. : to run or slip away (as from a mental institution or training school) : escape , flee
he eloped from his creditors
• elope·ment -pmənt noun -s