v. Obs. [A by-form of ESCAPE, adopted from later OFr. échaper, occas. achaper (mod. échapper):—early OFr. and Norm. escaper, whence the ordinary form. Scotch writers in 6 have echap as in Fr. Also aphetized in 5 to CHAPE. Cf. SCHAPE, SHAPE, and SCAPE.] = ESCAPE.
1250. Layamon, II. 342. Þe Alemains; þat a-chaped were [1205 weoren awei idraȝene].
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. Poems, B. 970. Þe wrake þat no wyȝe achaped.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2805. Whan þe hert & þe hind · were of so harde a-chaped. Ibid., 1248. Gretly y þonk god · þat gart me a-chape.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 143. Præsumption of gods mercie to echap for sinne vnpunished.
