To elope, most literally, merely means to run away.

"To elope" (scappare dalla propria famiglia per sposarsi segretamente) nel modo più letterale possibile significa semplicemente "scappare".

In England, a legal prerequisite of marriage was the "reading of the banns" — for the three Sundays prior to the intended date of their ceremony, the names of every couple intending marriage had to be read aloud by the priests of their parishes of residence.

In Inghilterra un requisito legale indispensabile per sposarsi era la cosiddetta lettura delle pubblicazioni matrimoniali - nelle tre domeniche precedenti la data prefissata della loro cerimonia, i nomi di ogni coppia che intendeva sposarsi dovevano essere letti ad alta voce dai sacerdoti delle loro rispettive parrocchie di residenza.

(The intention was to prevent bigamy or other unlawful marriages by giving fair warning to anybody who might have a legal right to object.

(L'intenzione era quella di prevenire la bigamia o altri tipi di matrimonio illegale, dando un preavviso a chiunque avesse un diritto legale ad opporsi ad esso.

In practice, however, it also gave warning to the couples' parents, who sometimes objected on purely personal grounds.)

In pratica, però, ciò dava il preavviso anche ai genitori delle coppie, che a volte si opponevano per ragioni assolutamente personali.)

To contravene this law, it was necessary to get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury — or to flee somewhere the law did not apply.

Per contrastare questa legge era necessario ottenere una speciale dispensa dall'Arcivescovo di Canterbury oppure fuggire in una località dove la legge non si applicava.

(Across the border to Scotland, for instance, or aboard a ship since ship captains have the right to perform marriages)

(Attraversando il confine con la Scozia, per esempio, oppure a bordo di una nave, dato che il capitano di una nave aveva il diritto di celebrare matrimoni.)

In America, more recently, some states required blood tests or waiting periods before marriage;

In America, più recentemente, alcuni Stati richiedevano un'analisi del sangue o dei periodi di attesa prima del matrimonio;

a couple wishing to wed quickly (before, usually, their parents could object) would travel to a state without such a rule.

una coppia che desiderasse unirsi in matrimonio velocemente (di solito prima che i loro genitori potessero opporsi), soleva recarsi in uno Stato privo di questa norma.

(In the musical Guys and Dolls, for instance, a police officer suggests that Nathan Detroit and Adelade, his fiancée of fourteen years, elope to Maryland which does not require a blood test.)

(Nel musical "Guys and Dolls" - Bulli e pupe - per esempio, un ufficiale di polizia suggerisce che Nathan Detroit e Adelade, la sua fidanzata quattordicenne, scappino in Maryland, dove non è richiesta l'analisi del sangue.)

Today the term is colloquially used for any hasty marriage or one performed away from home with few (if any) guests.

Oggi il termine è colloquialmente usato per indicare qualunque matrimonio frettoloso o per quelli celebrati lontano da casa, con pochi (o zero) invitati.

Some couples find it romantic, for instance, to "elope" to Las Vegas, Nevada and be married by an Elvis impersonator there.

Alcune coppie trovano romantico, per esempio, "fuggire" a Las Vegas in Nevada, ed essere lì uniti in matrimonio da un sosia di Elvis.

More seriously, now that certain states and municipalities in the United States have begun allowing same-sex marriage, elopement for legal reasons may see a resurgence.

Più seriamente, ora che certi Stati e comuni degli Stati Uniti hanno iniziato a permettere i matrimoni omosessuali, la "fuitina" per ragioni legali potrà avere una rinascita.

To elope, most literally, merely means to run away.

More specifically, elopement is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried flight away from one's place of residence.

In England, a legal prerequisite of marriage was the "reading of the banns" — for the three Sundays prior to the intended date of their ceremony, the names of every couple intending marriage had to be read aloud by the priests of their parishes of residence.

(The intention was to prevent bigamy or other unlawful marriages by giving fair warning to anybody who might have a legal right to object.

In practice, however, it also gave warning to the couples' parents, who sometimes objected on purely personal grounds.)

To contravene this law, it was necessary to get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury — or to flee somewhere the law did not apply.

(Across the border to Scotland, for instance, or aboard a ship since ship captains have the right to perform marriages)

In America, more recently, some states required blood tests or waiting periods before marriage;

a couple wishing to wed quickly (before, usually, their parents could object) would travel to a state without such a rule.

(In the musical Guys and Dolls, for instance, a police officer suggests that Nathan Detroit and Adelade, his fiancée of fourteen years, elope to Maryland which does not require a blood test.)

Today the term is colloquially used for any hasty marriage or one performed away from home with few (if any) guests.

Some couples find it romantic, for instance, to "elope" to Las Vegas, Nevada and be married by an Elvis impersonator there.

More seriously, now that certain states and municipalities in the United States have begun allowing same-sex marriage, elopement for legal reasons may see a resurgence.