Escapees

/ˌɛskəˈpiːz/ noun

Definition

People who have escaped from prison, captivity, or a dangerous situation.

Etymology

From the verb 'escape' (from Old French 'escaper'), combining 'ex-' (out) and 'cappa' (cloak), literally meaning to slip out of one's cloak. The suffix '-ee' denotes the receiver of an action, making escapees the 'ones who escaped.'

Kelly Says

The suffix '-ee' is brilliant because it clearly shows who receives the action—escapees *escape*, employees are *employed*, and refugees *flee*. It's a clever linguistic trick that helps us instantly understand who's doing what!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.