kleptomania

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌklɛp.təˈmeɪ.ni.ə/^[1]

Etymology

It is from New Latin kleptomania,^[2][3] formed from Ancient Greek κλέπτης (kléptēs, “thief”), from kléptein “to steal”,^[4][2][5][6] and mania.^[4][2][5][6] The Greek verb is cognate with Latin clepere “to steal” and Gothic hlifan.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

An irresistible impulse to steal, in people not driven to it by need (1830).^[2][5][3][7]

Semantic evolution

In the 19th century the word was much derided as a fancy name for ordinary theft that let the well-off claim a psychological excuse;^[5] The Lancet complained of this in 1861.^[5] Kleptomaniac is recorded from 1861.^[7]

Timeline

• 1830 – kleptomania.^[2][5][3][7]
• 1861 – kleptomaniac.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A persistent, irresistible impulse to steal without economic need, arising from an emotional disturbance.

Word family

• kleptomaniac

Related words

• mania
• kleptocracy

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press