larceny

[lahr-suh-nee]

noun

Law.

plural

larcenies 

1. the wrongful taking of someone's property or goods, removing them from their owner's posession with intent to convert them to the taker's own use.

larceny

/ ˈlɑːsɪnɪ /

noun

1. law (formerly) a technical word for theft

larceny

1. Theft; taking another person's property with the intent of permanently depriving the owner.

Other Word Forms

• larcenist noun
• larcenously adverb
• larcenous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of larceny¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English larceni, from Anglo-French larcin “theft,” from Latin latrōcinium “robbery” (equivalent to latrōcin(ārī) “to rob,” originally “serve as mercenary soldier” (derivative of latrō “hired soldier, robber”) + -ium -ium ) + -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of larceny¹

C15: from Old French larcin, from Latin lātrocinium robbery, from latrō robber

Example Sentences

He was convicted of armed robbery, felony larceny and break and enter, according to records obtained by CNN, and spent eight years in jail for robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Read more on BBC

Property crimes including burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny also are trending down, according to city data.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Can the places Jackson visited for his book endure public larceny?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The bill would require immigration agents to take into custody people who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Studies by the Public Policy Institute of California have questioned whether Proposition 47 is to blame for increases in crimes such as larceny and commercial burglary, also pointing to low solve rates by police.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• burglary 
• misappropriation 
• robbery