kleptomania English · revision 1165

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌklɛp.təˈmeɪ.ni.ə/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la-new|kleptomania]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) formed from [[grc|κλέπτης|tr=kléptēs|t=thief]], from ''kléptein'' “to steal”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) and [[mania]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The Greek verb is cognate with Latin ''clepere'' “to steal” and Gothic ''hlifan''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An irresistible impulse to steal, in people not driven to it by need (1830).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==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;^(Etymonline) ''The Lancet'' complained of this in 1861.^(Etymonline) ''Kleptomaniac'' is recorded from 1861.^(OED 1989)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1830 – ''kleptomania''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1861 – ''kleptomaniac''.^(OED 1989)

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+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A persistent, irresistible [[impulse]] to steal without economic need, arising from an emotional disturbance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Word family==

+ * [[kleptomaniac]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mania]]

+ * [[kleptocracy]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}