v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Absconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Absconding. ] [ L. abscondere to hide; ab, abs + condere to lay up; con + dăre (only in comp.) to put. Cf. Do. ] 1. To hide, withdraw, or be concealed. [ 1913 Webster ]

The marmot absconds all winter. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; -- used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as, an absconding debtor. [ 1913 Webster ]

That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many recruits to abscond. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To hide; to conceal. [ Obs. ] Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding. [ R. ] Phillips. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who absconds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 the act of running away sectretly (as to avoid arrest).
Syn. -- decampment [ WordNet 1.5 ]