Elapse: meaning, definitions and examples
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elapse
[ ɪˈlæps ]
time passing
To elapse means to pass or go by, especially in reference to time. It refers to the duration of time that has passed from a certain point to another. The term is often used in contexts related to time management or observations of time intervals.
Synonyms
expire, go by, pass
Examples of usage
- Several hours elapsed before he returned.
- A year had elapsed since their last meeting.
- Minutes elapsed under the tense silence.
Translations
Translations of the word "elapse" in other languages:
🇵🇹 decorrer
🇮🇳 गुज़रना
🇩🇪 vergehen
🇮🇩 berlalu
🇺🇦 минати
🇵🇱 upływać
🇯🇵 経過する
🇫🇷 s'écouler
🇪🇸 transcurrir
🇹🇷 geçmek
🇰🇷 경과하다
🇸🇦 يمر
🇨🇿 ubíhat
🇸🇰 uplynúť
🇨🇳 经过
🇸🇮 miniti
🇮🇸 líða
🇰🇿 өту
🇬🇪 გავლენა
🇦🇿 keçmək
🇲🇽 transcurrir
Etymology
The word 'elapse' comes from the Latin word 'elapsus', which is the past participle of 'elabi', meaning 'to slip away' or 'to glide away'. It entered the English language in the late 14th century, initially used in the context of time slipping away or passing. Over the centuries, its usage has expanded to denote the passing of time in both literary and colloquial contexts. The prefix 'e-' suggests a sense of motion or direction, while 'laps' relates to the idea of slippage, thereby symbolizing time that flows or moves away from a specified reference point.