take a French leave

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English[edit]

Verb[edit]

take a French leave (third-person singular simple present takes a French leave, present participle taking a French leave, simple past took a French leave, past participle taken a French leave)

  1. Obsolete form of take French leave (with particular reference to a single act)
    • 1771, [Tobias Smollett], “To Mrs. Mary Jones, at Brambleton-hall”, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […]; and B. Collins, […], →OCLC, page 226:
      As for Ditton, after all his courting, and his compliment, he ſtole avvay an Iriſhman's bride, and took a French leave of me and his maſter; […]
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