decamp

American  

[dih-kamp] / dɪˈkæmp /

verb (used without object)

decamps, present (3rd person singular) decamped, past participle, past decamping present participle

1. to depart from a camp; to pack up equipment and leave a camping ground.

   We decamped before the rain began.

2. to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously.

   The band of thieves decamped in the night.

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decamp British  

/ dɪˈkæmp /

verb

1. to leave a camp; break camp

2. to depart secretly or suddenly; abscond

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• decampment
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have decamped
  perfect
• has decamped
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am decamping
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been decamping
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been decamping
  perfect progressive
• decamping
  participle
• are decamping
  progressive
• is decamping
  progressive 3rd person singular
• decamps
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had decamped
  perfect
• had been decamping
  perfect progressive
• decamped
  simple
• were decamping
  progressive plural
• decamped
  participle
• was decamping
  progressive singular

Future

• will decamp
  simple
• will have decamped
  perfect
• will have been decamping
  perfect progressive
• will be decamping
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of decamp

1670–80; < French décamper, equivalent to dé- dis- ¹ + camper to encamp; see camp ¹

Explanation

When you decamp, you leave or depart very suddenly, or in secret. If your rent in Brooklyn keeps going up, you may decide to decamp to New Jersey. Use the verb decamp when people scram — especially when they relocate a household or a business to a new location. You'll probably be disappointed when your favorite pizza place decamps to another neighborhood, or if your best friend's family decamps to Canada. The word was originally a military term, literally meaning "leave camp," from the French décamper, from des-, "apart or away," and camp, "open space for military exercises."