elapse
/ɪˈlaps
/verb [no object]
(Of time) pass or go by: weeks elapsed before anyone was charged with the attack...
- A few more moments passed in a seamless elapse of time until the deep metal sound of the ending bell was heard.
- It is also true that eight and a half years have now elapsed since the proceedings were commenced.
- As more time elapsed, my chances of survival would grow progressively slim.
Synonyms
pass, go by/past, proceed, progress, advance, wear on, march on, slip by/away/past, roll by/past, glide by/past, slide by/past, steal by/past, tick by/past;
fly by/past;
creep by/past, crawl by/past
Origin
Late 16th century (in the sense 'slip away'): from Latin elaps- 'slipped away', from the verb elabi, from e- (variant of ex-) 'out, away' + labi 'to glide, slip'.
lapse from Late Middle English:
Lapse is from Latin lapsus, from labi ‘to glide, slip, or fall’ reinforced by Latin lapsare ‘to slip or stumble’. Elapse (late 16th century) comes from the same root.