theft

Pronunciation

• IPA: /θɛft/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old English þēofþ (“theft”) (West Saxon þīefþ, later þȳft),^[2][3][4] from Proto-Germanic *þeubiþō,^[2][5] from *þeubaz, thief, and the abstract suffix *-iþō (see -th).^[2][3] It is cognate with Old Frisian thiūfthe, Old Saxon thiubda and Old Norse þýfð.^[5][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The action of a thief, felonious taking: 688–95 in the OED;^[6] Old English þēofþ about 695 in Barnhart.^[5]

Semantic evolution

That which is stolen is from 962–63, now rare.^[6][7] The habitual practice of stealing is from the mid-13th century.^[2] In Middle English it was sometimes extended to usury or the charging of interest,^[2] and Middle English also had theftly, furtively, and theftuous, thievish.^[2]

Timeline

• 688–95 – stealing.^[6]
• 962–63 – something stolen.^[6]
• c. 1250 – theft, thefte.^[5]
• mid-13th century – the habit of stealing.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The act of stealing; larceny.
2. (law) The dishonest taking of another's property meaning to keep it permanently.
3. (rare) Something stolen.

Word family

• antitheft
• theftproof
• grand theft
• identity theft

Related words

• thief
• thieve
• -th

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
6. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins