escape

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of escaping physically
  2. noun an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy
  3. noun nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do

Etymology

From Middle English escapen, from Anglo-Norman and Old Northern French escaper ( = Old French eschaper, modern French échapper), from Vulgar Latin *excappāre (“to escape a garment, get out of one's clothing”, literally “to free oneself from one's cape”), from Latin ex- (“out”) + Late Latin cappa (“cape, cloak”). Cognate with escapade. Also doublet of scape.

In classic literature

Synonyms

flight

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