▪ I.abscond,v.|æbˈskɒnd|[ad.L. abscond-ĕre to hide or stow away,f.abs off, away + condĕre to put together, to stow,f.con together + dăre to put.]†1.trans.To hide away, to conceal (anything). Obs.or arch.1612WoodallSurgeon's MateWks.1653, 388I advise it to be privately absconded for the reputation sake.
1669Flamstead inPhil.Trans.IV. 1105The Moon approaching them (Stars of the 5th and 6th Magnitude) within 4 or 5 degrees, absconds them to the naked eye.
1699–1703J. PomfretPoet.Wks.(1833) 99The trembling Alps abscond their aged heads In mighty pillars of infernal smoke.
1868CussansHandbk.Heraldry xi. 146The first is absconded, or covered, by the Canton.
2.refl.(Obs.or arch.)1673inPhil.Trans.VIII. 5180Before Saturn did abscond himself in the beams of the Sun.
1681WorlidgeSyst.Agric.258After a dark night..the little Fish will then bite best, having absconded themselves all night for fear of the greater.
1721StrypeEccl.Mem.(1822) I. 315The poor man fled from place to place absconding himself.
3.intr.(by omission of therefl.pron.) ‘To hide oneself; to retire from the public view: generally used of persons in debt, or criminals eluding the law.’ J.; to go away hurriedly and secretly.1565–78ChurchyardChippes (1817) 20He was obliged to abscond, & to make his escape, in priest's attire.
1694FalleJersey i. 34The King..was forced to abscond with great danger of his Person, till he found a passage into France.
1726De FoeHist.Devil (1840) ii. vii. 267He did his devilish endeavour, and stayed till he was forced to abscond again.
1782PriestleyMatter & Spirit I. xvii. 197The villain who had absconded for a year would not escape punishment.
1865CarlyleFredk.Gt.VIII. xviii. xi. 5Some few absconded, leaving their property as spoil.
1870J. R. LowellMy Study Windows 4In the coldest weather ever known the mercury basely absconded into the bulb.
▪ II.†abˈscond,a.Obs.rare—1.[? for absconded.]Hidden from view.1719D'UrfeyPills (1872) II. 12Pleased with the thought he should sit abscond and see them.
