theft English · revision 7587

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=688–95|origins=gem-pro *þeubiþō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /θɛft/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|þēofþ|t=theft]] (West Saxon þīefþ, later þȳft),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from Proto-Germanic *þeubiþō,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from *þeubaz, [[thief]], and the abstract suffix *-iþō (see [[-th]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It is cognate with Old Frisian thiūfthe, Old Saxon thiubda and Old Norse þýfð.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of a thief, felonious taking: 688–95 in the OED;^(OED 1989) Old English þēofþ about 695 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ That which is stolen is from 962–63, now rare.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023) The habitual practice of stealing is from the mid-13th century.^(Etymonline) In Middle English it was sometimes extended to usury or the charging of interest,^(Etymonline) and Middle English also had theftly, furtively, and theftuous, thievish.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 688–95 – stealing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 962–63 – something stolen.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1250 – theft, thefte.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-13th century – the habit of stealing.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[steal|alt=stealing]]; [[larceny]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' The dishonest taking of another's [[property]] meaning to keep it permanently.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(rare)'' Something stolen.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antitheft]]

+ * [[theftproof]]

+ * [[grand theft]]

+ * [[identity theft]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thief]]

+ * [[thieve]]

+ * [[-th]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}