purloin

American  

[per-loin, pur-loin] / pərˈlɔɪn, ˈpɜr lɔɪn /

verb (used with object)

1. to take dishonestly; steal; filch; pilfer.

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verb (used without object)

1. to commit theft; steal.

purloin British  

/ pɜːˈlɔɪn /

verb

1. to take (something) dishonestly; steal

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Other Word Forms

• purloiner noun
• unpurloined adjective

Etymology

Origin of purloin

First recorded in 1325–50; Middle English purloynen, from Anglo-French purloigner, Old French porloigner “to put off, remove,” equivalent to pur- (from Latin prō- pro- ¹ ) + -loigner, derivative of loin “at a distance, far off,” from Latin longē “a long way off,” adverb of longus “long” ( long ¹ ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Evolution has similarly purloined existing features and modified them, using great thrift, for example, to transmogrify a piece of jaw into an ear or to transform a leg into a wing.

From The Wall Street Journal

With a fee that she purloins from a church collection plate, she implores him for help and he agrees, as he learns more about this young girl’s challenging childhood.

From Los Angeles Times

PARIS—French authorities said they’ve detained four more people in connection to the Louvre heist, including a man suspected of being the only thief to remain at large after purloining the nation’s crown jewels.

From The Wall Street Journal

A simple but effective way to stop auto bandits from purloining your key fob signal is to use a Faraday bag or pouch.

From Seattle Times

According to the previously unreported federal conviction, Bird, then 30 and living in Sunnyside, Yakima County, falsified a 1991 credit application “with intent to steal and purloin” funds from U.S.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• embezzle
• filch
• misappropriate
• pilfer