Basic Details
Word: Absconded
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Left quickly and secretly, usually to escape from the law or to avoid paying, often taking something that was not theirs.
Synonyms: fled, escaped, bolted, ran off
Antonyms: stayed, surrendered, returned
Word origin: Comes from Latin abscondere, to hide away, from abs, away, and condere, to put or store.
How to Spell Absconded
Syllables: ab - scond - ed
Tricky part: The s and c sit side by side after ab, and the c is said as k. Students also lose the d of abscond before ed.
Watch out for: abskonded, absconed, abscounded
Memory tip: Spot the con in the middle: the con man absconded. Write abs before con, then ded after it.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The cashier absconded with the shop's money.
Example 2: Two prisoners absconded from the jail during the night.
Example 3: The tenant absconded without paying three months' rent.
Fun Fact
In Indian office and police language, a worker who leaves without notice is often said to have absconded from duty, and a wanted person still at large is an absconder.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The treasurer of the club dsnebodca with the money collected for the Diwali fair.
a) absconded
b) ascended
c) abandoned
d) abounded
Show answer
a) absconded. The jumble has an s and a c, which abandoned and abounded lack, and ascended would need a second e.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
ab_con_ed
a) s, d
b) s, t
c) z, d
d) c, d
Show answer
a) s, d. Write both s and c, as in descend, and keep the d of abscond before ed.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. abscounded 2. embezzled 3. vanished 4. surrendered
a) stole money one was trusted to look after
b) left secretly to escape
c) disappeared suddenly
d) gave oneself up
Show answer
b) left secretly to escape. There is no u in absconded: the middle is cond, as in second, not cound.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A thief who has absconded has ____.
a) paid back the money
b) been caught
c) said sorry
d) run away in secret
Show answer
d) run away in secret
2. Which sentence uses absconded correctly?
a) The baby absconded her milk.
b) The clerk absconded with the office funds.
c) We absconded the stairs to the roof.
d) The rain absconded the crops.
Show answer
b) The clerk absconded with the office funds.
