What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Elope vs Decamp - What's the difference?

elope | decamp |

As verbs the difference between elope and decamp

is that elope is to run away from home with a paramour while decamp is to break up camp and move on.

elope

English

(Elopement)

Alternative forms

* (obsolete)

Verb

(en-verb)
  • (of a married person) To run away from home with a paramour.
  • (of an unmarried person) To run away secretly for the purpose of getting married with one's intended spouse; to marry in a quick or private fashion, especially without a public period of engagement.
  • * 1813 , Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
    • My younger sister has left all her friends-- has eloped ; has thrown herself into the power of-- of Mr. Wickham.
  • * 1996 , "Introduction", in The Piozzi Letters: Correspondence of Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1784-1821 (formerly Mrs. Thrale), Volume 4, 1805-1810 (eds. Edward A. Bloom & Lillian D. Bloom), Associated University Presses (1996), ISBN 0874133939, page 30:
    • Although Cecilia was the youngest of the surviving Thrale daughters, she had been the first to marry, eloping to Gretna Green in 1795 with John Meredith Mostyn of neighboring Llewesog Lodge. Both were underage.
  • * 2009 , Jan Springer, Intimate Stranger , Ellora's Cave (2009), ISBN 9781419921735, page 132:
    • Although they had eloped in Vegas, she'd insisted he wear a tuxedo and she buy a wedding dress at one of the local stores.
  • * 2012 , Shirley Jump, One Day to Find a Husband , Harlequin (2012), ISBN 9780373178216, page 136:
    • They knew each other for maybe a month before they eloped in Vegas.
  • (dated) To run away from home (for any reason).
  • * 1782 , Frances Burney, Cecilia
    • He had been intended by his father for trade, but his spirit, soaring above the occupation for which he was designed, from repining led him to resist, and from resisting, to rebel. He eloped from his friends, and contrived to enter the army.
  • * c. 1794 , Jane Austen, Lady Susan
    • That horrid girl of mine has been trying to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to elope ; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances.

    Derived terms

    * elopement

    decamp

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To break up camp and move on.
  • To disappear suddenly and secretly.
  • * , Episode 16
    • Though unusual in the Dublin area he knew that it was not by any means unknown for desperadoes who had next to nothing to live on to be abroad waylaying and generally terrorising peaceable pedestrians by placing a pistol at their head in some secluded spot outside the city proper, famished loiterers of the Thames embankment category they might be hanging about there or simply marauders ready to decamp with whatever boodle they could in one fell swoop at a moment's notice, your money or your life, leaving you there to point a moral, gagged and garrotted.

    Synonyms

    * abscond * absquatulate

    Anagrams

    *