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View synonyms for abscond

abscond

[ ab-skond ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution:

    The cashier absconded with the money.

    Synonyms: bolt, decamp



abscond

/ əbˈskɒnd /

verb

  1. intr to run away secretly, esp from an open institution or to avoid prosecution or punishment
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • abˈsconder, noun
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Other Words From

  • ab·sconder noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abscond1

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin abscondere “to hide or stow away,” equivalent to abs- abs- + condere “to stow” ( con- con- + -dere “to put”; do 1 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abscond1

C16: from Latin abscondere to hide, put away, from abs- ab- 1+ condere to stow
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Example Sentences

He also told the jury that the fake bomb that he left on the desk of his barracks when he absconded from there in January 2022 was not designed to frighten anyone.

From BBC

In August, the most recent month for which the Probation Department provided figures, 402 of the 1,438 people under GPS monitoring had absconded, according to the statement.

Aaron Wood spent two days on the run after absconding from North Sea Camp near Boston on 22 September.

From BBC

The court heard that a note left near the device read: “You can say with certainty that you will go to prison for a very long time. Your options are suicide or absconding.”

From BBC

Police later found a black transit van which the prosecution said Mr Khalife had used when he absconded from the army.

From BBC

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More About Abscond

What does abscond mean?

Abscond means to leave secretly and suddenly, especially to avoid being caught, punished, or put on trial.

The word typically implies that someone has left because they have done something wrong and want to avoid any consequences. Criminals abscond to get away with their crimes. A more informal term for abscond is make one’s getaway.

Abscond is often followed by the word with and the thing that the person has absconded with, such as the things they’ve stolen, as in It’s too late—he’s already absconded with the diamond!

In a legal context, abscond is often used to mean that someone has left to avoid prosecution or legal proceedings that have already begun.

Abscond is sometimes used in a humorous way to liken someone to a criminal, as in Jeff absconded with the rest of the doughnuts or The dog absconded with my cheeseburger.

A person who absconds can be called an absconder or an abscondee.

Example: The thieves absconded with the loot before the authorities arrived at the scene.

Where does abscond come from?

The first records of the word abscond come from around the 1600s. It comes from the Latin verb abscondere, meaning “to hide or stow away.”

After a person absconds, they usually go into hiding. In fact, the noun abscondence means hiding, especially to avoid the consequences of one’s wrongdoing. Sometimes, abscond means much the same thing as escape, especially when it’s used in the context of a prisoner absconding from a prison or jail.

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What are some other forms related to abscond?

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What are some words that often get used in discussing abscond?

 

 

How is abscond used in real life?

Abscond is typically used in the context of crimes or actions that are humorously likened to crimes.

 

 

Try using abscond!

Is abscond used correctly in the following sentence?

The defendant absconded right before the trial was set to begin.

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abscission zoneabscondee