Theft

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /θɛft/

Origin

Old English þȳft, þēoft, earlier þīefþ, þēofþ, from Proto-Germanic *þiubiþō, from *þeubaz ("thief"). Cognate with Old Norse þeoft, þeofð and (obsolete) Dutch diefte. Compare thief, -th.

Full definition of theft

Noun

1. The act of stealing property.

Derived terms

• petty theft

Related terms

• thief
• thieve