abscond
UK: /əbˈskɒnd/ | US: /əbˈskɑːnd/
vi. to leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest
abscond = abs<away> + cond<hide>
- abs<away>: From Latin ab- (away, off).
- cond<hide>: From Latin condere (to hide, store).
Etymology Origin:
The word abscond originates from Latin abscondere, combining ab- (away) and condere (to hide). It originally meant "to hide away" or "conceal," later evolving in English to specifically describe fleeing secretly to evade capture. The logic is straightforward: abs- implies departure, while -cond reinforces the act of hiding, creating a vivid image of stealthy escape.
The thief absconded with the jewels before the police arrived.
The accountant absconded after embezzling company funds.
The prisoner managed to abscond during the night.
He absconded to a foreign country to avoid paying debts.
The suspect absconded before the trial began.