Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from aslope 'in a sloping position' (14-21 centuries), probably from Old English aslopen, past participle of aslupan 'to slip away'

slope

2 verb
     
slope2 [intransitive]
if the ground or a surface slopes, it is higher at one end than the other
slope up/down/away etc
a pleasant garden that slopes down to the river

slope off

phrasal verb
to leave somewhere quietly and secretly, especially when you are avoiding work:
Mike sloped off early today.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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