escapade English · revision 1903

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛskəˌpeɪd/, /ˌɛskəˈpɑːd/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|escapade|t=prank, trick; escape]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|es|escapada|t=flight, escape, prank]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''escapar'' “to escape”;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the French word may instead come from Italian ''scappata'', from ''scappare''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Both go back to Vulgar Latin ''*excappāre'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the source of [[escape]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An escape from confinement or restraint (1653).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, a breaking loose from rules or restraint, a flighty piece of conduct, is first recorded in 1814.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The word now means an adventurous or unconventional exploit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) A sense describing a horse throwing off control, plunging and rearing, is obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1645–55 – Random House's dating.^(RHWU)

+ * 1653 – an escape from confinement.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1667 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1814 – a breaking loose from convention.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An adventurous, unconventional or reckless act; a wild [[prank]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(rare)'' An escape from confinement or restraint.^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[escape]]

+ * [[caper]]

+ * [[antic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}