fugere

Fugere is a Latin verb meaning to flee, escape, or avoid. It is a third‑conjugation verb of the -io class, often treated as a mixed -io verb in classical grammars. The principal parts are fugio, fugere, fugi, fugitus (supine fugitum is also used in some constructions). In the active voice, the present indicative forms are fugio, fugis, fugit, fugimus, fugitis, fugiunt; the imperfect and future tenses follow typical -io patterns (fugiebam, fugies, fugiet, etc.). The present passive forms are fugior, fugiēris/fugieris, fugiuntur, and so on. The perfect system is built from the perfect fugi- (fugi, fugitus) with appropriate endings.

Meaning and usage in Latin are broad: to flee or run away from danger or pursuit, to escape from captivity, or more generally to avoid or shun something. The verb commonly governs the thing fled as a direct object in the accusative (fugere hostes, to flee from the enemies) and may also appear with prepositions such as ab or ex to indicate the source or exit of flight, depending on nuance.

Etymology and cognates: fugere is the source of many Romance-language verbs meaning “to flee” — Italian fuggire, Spanish huir (via evolution from Latin), French fuir, Portuguese fugir, and others. English derivatives include fugitive (from fugitivus, via Latin), refuge/refugium (from refugium, “a retreat” or “refuge”), and fugue (from fuga, flight; the musical sense of a flight or imitative sequence). The phrase tempus fugit (time flies) exemplifies the common conceptual association with flight or rapid passing.

In classical literature, fugere appears in discussions of danger, military withdrawal, or evasive action, and is often contrasted with other verbs of movement. Its semantic range extends from literal flight to figurative avoidance or evasion.