Elopers

/ɪˈloʊpərz/ noun

Definition

People who elope; those who run away together to get married.

Etymology

Plural of 'eloper,' formed using the standard English plural '-s'.

Kelly Says

Young elopers from the 1800s often faced social consequences that we'd consider harsh today—being an eloper could ruin a family's reputation, which is why Shakespeare's lovers needed such dramatic endings!

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Plural of a term historically applied with gendered double standards: female elopers faced reputational damage; male elopers faced minimal social consequence.

Inclusive Usage

Maintain symmetrical language and judgment when referring to multiple elopers; avoid narratives that center one gender's transgression.

Inclusive Alternatives

["people who eloped"]

Empowerment Note

Women who eloped were often socially ostracized; recognize this was a consequence of patriarchal family control, not moral truth.

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