Flee (flē), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Fled (flĕd); p. pr. & vb. n.Fleeing.] [OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleón (imperf. fleáh); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. flȳja (imperf. flȳði), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. þliuhan. √84. Cf. Flight.] To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; — usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.
cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Shak.
Flee fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18.
So fled his enemies my warlike father. Shak.
☞ When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. “Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?” Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.