A person who elopes; someone who runs away to get married secretly.
From 'elope' plus the agent noun suffix '-er,' meaning 'one who elopers.' The term has been in use since the practice became common in English literature.
History books show that elopers were sometimes treated as scandals—families hired people to track down runaway couples, which is where we get stories of dramatic chases across state lines!
Historically, female elopers were subjects of moral scrutiny and gossip; male elopers were often treated with ambivalence. The term carried gendered shame narratives.
Use person-neutral context or specify 'eloper' without gendered moral judgment. If discussing historical records, name the gendered framing explicitly.
["person who eloped","those who chose secret marriage"]
Historical accounts of female elopers often erased their deliberative choice and agency, treating them as victims of passion rather than decision-makers.
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