Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself, often to avoid arrest or prosecution.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To retire from public view, or from the place in which one resides or is ordinarily to be found; depart in a sudden and secret manner; take one's self off; decamp; especially, to go out of the way in order to avoid a legal process.
- To hide, withdraw, or lie concealed: as, “the marmot absconds in winter,” Ray, Works of Creation.
- Synonyms Escape, retreat, flee, run away, make off.
- To conceal.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To hide, withdraw, or be concealed.
- intransitive verb To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process.
- transitive verb obsolete To hide; to conceal.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word abscond.
Examples
-
After some more lingering chatting, a few more chance encounters, and at least one, "Here, hold this sign that says 'Hi Shann' and let me get a picture, please?" we were prepared to abscond from the premises.
September 5th, 2005 moriarty6 2005
-
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has echoed Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's agent Arnold Oosterveer, who insists his client will not abscond from the Italian club amid reports Liverpool are working on a loan deal for him.
-
Is more likely to "abscond" - the entire colony leaves the hive and relocates - in response to repeated intrusions by the beekeeper.
Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en] 2008
-
Officially, immigration detention is not supposed to be used as punishment; the immigration agency can only detain immigrants in order to more easily deport them, so that they don't "abscond" and evade removal.
Jane Guskin: Immigration Detention: The Case for Abolition 2008
-
Paul Michael Barrett Austin may seem quiet, but he's been secretly cooking the books in order to abscond with a large amount drawn from the regional office's bank account.
George Heymont: Strangers in Strange Lands George Heymont 2011
-
You know the food is really good when a bunch of foodies are devising clever ways to abscond with a whoopie pie after an epic 20-dish meal.
Foodies Feast, Family-Style Melanie Grayce West 2011
-
Some are not being well-managed as there is massive speculation and price manipulation, while some have their shareholders directly taking part in transactions, which has led to the embezzlement of clients' funds and prompted some managers to abscond, the statement said, without naming specific companies or individuals.
-
Satisfied, the cop went off to collect, leaving Thurston and his wife to abscond.
Jim Steinmeyer's "The Last Greatest Magician in the World" 2011
-
Paul Michael Barrett Austin may seem quiet, but he's been secretly cooking the books in order to abscond with a large amount drawn from the regional office's bank account.
George Heymont: Strangers in Strange Lands George Heymont 2011
-
Paul Michael Barrett Austin may seem quiet, but he's been secretly cooking the books in order to abscond with a large amount drawn from the regional office's bank account.
George Heymont: Strangers in Strange Lands George Heymont 2011
Prolagus commented on the word abscond
Insulting my integrity, eh, Fatso? Insinuating I'd flee this flea-bitten dump, eh, Fatso? Intimating I'd abscond with your financial remunerations, eh, Fatso?
(Daffy Duck, in Porky Pig's Feat, 1943)
March 11, 2008
ofravens commented on the word abscond
That quote just made my night. Thanks, Prolagus.
March 11, 2008
yarb commented on the word abscond
Best citation I've seen in ages.
N.b. surprising how popular this word is.
March 11, 2008
rolig commented on the word abscond
Excellent! Too bad, there's no typographical way to convey all the spittle flying around with these words.
March 11, 2008
artoparts commented on the word abscond
See: absquatulate.
October 3, 2008
madmouth commented on the word abscond
"It appears that Lord Waffle has absconded with the silverware"
April 13, 2009
yarb commented on the word abscond
Was just about to say how surprised I am that this word has been listed so many times...
July 23, 2009
kingparton commented on the word abscond
Clerks abscond, partners cut their throats, balance sheets won't add up, accounts are cooked.
Bessie Raynor Parks, "The Land of Gossip"
November 12, 2011
Prolagus commented on the word abscond
Have you noticed how many lists the word is in, yarb?
November 14, 2011
yarb commented on the word abscond
I think that must be a Wordie Pro feature, my friend.
November 14, 2011