Theft
/θɛft/noun
The act of stealing; the illegal taking of another person's property.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “spell” or “glamour,” “theft” has a plain legal history, but it comes from the same ancient Germanic family that gave English words for things being taken or grasped.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teh₂g-
“to touch, handle, or take”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þeubaz / *þeofaz
“thief, one who steals”
Old English
OE
þift
“theft, stealing”
Old English
OE
þēof
“thief”
Middle English
ME
thefte
“the act of stealing”
Modern English
English
theft
“the act of stealing”