abscond
Meaning: To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody, avoid arrest, or evade legal obligations.
Abscond carries a strong implication of fleeing to avoid the consequences of wrongdoing. In legal contexts, it most commonly describes a defendant who fails to appear at court after being granted bail, or a prisoner who escapes from an open prison. In financial journalism, it often appears in reports of fraud where the perpetrator disappears with misappropriated funds. The word is somewhat formal and rarely used in casual speech. It collocates with 'from custody,' 'with funds,' 'bail,' and 'authorities.'
Examples
- The defendant absconded while on bail and was arrested six months later in a seaside town in Devon. 被告在保释期间潜逃,六个月后在德文郡一个海滨小镇被逮捕。El acusado se fugó estando en libertad bajo fianza y fue detenido seis meses después en una localidad costera de Devon.被告人は保釈中に逃亡し、6か月後にデヴォンの海辺の町で逮捕された。피고인은 보석 중에 도주하여 6개월 후 데번의 해변 마을에서 체포되었다.
- The company director absconded with nearly two million pounds of investors' money before the fraud was discovered. 该公司董事在欺诈行为被发现之前携带近两百万英镑的投资者资金潜逃。El director de la empresa huyó con casi dos millones de libras del dinero de los inversores antes de que se descubriera el fraude.会社の取締役は、詐欺が発覚する前に投資家の資金およそ200万ポンドを持って姿を消した。회사 이사는 사기가 발각되기 전에 투자자 자금 약 200만 파운드를 가지고 잠적했다.
- Two inmates absconded from the open prison overnight but were apprehended by police the following morning. 两名囚犯在夜间从开放式监狱潜逃,但次日上午被警方抓获。Dos internos se fugaron del centro penitenciario abierto durante la noche, pero fueron aprehendidos por la policía a la mañana siguiente.2名の受刑者が夜間に開放的刑務所から脱走したが、翌朝警察に逮捕された。2명의 수감자가 야간에 개방형 교도소에서 탈주했으나 다음 날 아침 경찰에 의해 검거되었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin abscondere (to hide away), combining abs- (away) and condere (to store, conceal). Entered English in the 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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