Abscond

[jhol98]

Hi,

May I ask if somebody is absent to work, can I say he is absconded? or if I planned to absent tomorrow, can I say "I will abscond tomorrow" ?
For long, I understand the meaning of "abscond" is runway or diappear when he/she had done something wrong. Will this word fit into my sentence?

many thanks

[Tdol]

May I ask if somebody is absent to work, can I say he is absconded?

I wouldn't.

[jhol98]

I am doubt the usage of "abscond" for disappearing from work. However, some of my colleagues claimed such usage is common and correct.

Actually, the debate was started when one of my colleague went back to India for vacation and did not show up after his vacation due to sickness. Nevertheles he back to work today, almost 2 weeks late. One Indian guy was saying "if you don't come back you will be classified as Absconded and you will be blacklisted by the labour depatment". I felt the usage of "absconded" was not quite right, we then started mooting about this vocab.

[5jj]

In BrE, if you abscond, you get away from somewhere you are not allowed to leave, or run away with somebody's property.

[Tdol]

I don't know about other variants of English, but this usage doesn't work in British English- I look forward to seeing what the situation is in other variants.

[Gillnetter]

Hi,

May I ask if somebody is absent to work, can I say he is absconded? or if I planned to absent tomorrow, can I say "I will abscond tomorrow" ?
For long, I understand the meaning of "abscond" is runway or diappear when he/she had done something wrong. Will this word fit into my sentence?

many thanks

I am used to hearing the word "abscond" in the past tense and with the meaning being to leave quickly with stolen property - "He absconded with the petty cash." Abscond is a fairly formal word and, as such, is not used often. One could use the word this way, "I think that he may abscond with the petty cash."