theft
[theft]
- the act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal goods or property of another; larceny.
- an instance of this.
- Archaic. something stolen.
Origin of theft
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for theft
Contemporary Examples
In this way, inspiration becomes appropriation, which leads directly to theft and erasure.
That Kim Jong-un is behind it all—the hack, the theft, the sad red carpet.
The theft, which was over in less than a minute, took place in a North London liquor store.
Traitz, it should be noted, has a long criminal history that includes trafficking Oxycodone, ID fraud, theft, and more.
Bill Cosby’s Long List of Accusers (So Far): 18 Alleged Sexual Assault Victims Between 1965-2004Marlow Stern
November 24, 2014
They then “peeled his skin” with a blade before he agreed to confess to the theft of cell phones and telephone charge cards.
Historical Examples
It was the first time in many years that one of the employees had been thus accused of theft.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
What has all this to do with the question of theft in the store?
Within the LawMarvin Dana
Was he not a criminal—was he not about to leave his position because of theft?
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
It was nocturnal in its habits, and somewhat addicted to dancing and the theft of children.
The Devil's DictionaryAmbrose Bierce
The theft of old Galloway's bank-note has been traced to Arthur Channing.
The ChanningsMrs. Henry Wood
theft
- criminal law the dishonest taking of property belonging to another person with the intention of depriving the owner permanently of its possession
- rare something stolen
Word Origin
Old English thēofth; related to Old Norse thӯfth, Old Frisian thiūvethe, Middle Dutch düfte; see thief
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for theft
n.
Old English þeofð (West Saxon þiefð), from Proto-Germanic *theubitho (cf. Old Frisian thiufthe, Old Norse þyfð), from *theubaz "thief" (see thief) + suffix -itha (cognate with Latin -itatem).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper