Thieving
/ˈθiːvɪŋ/noun
Engaged in stealing or characteristic of a thief.
Did you know?English thief and thieving trace back to a Proto-Germanic word meaning “to suck up” or “draw off,” a grim image of theft as something being siphoned away.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teu-
“to swell, be strong”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þeubaz
“thief; one who steals”
Old English
OE
þēof
“thief”
Middle English
ME
thief
“thief”
Modern English
English
thieving
“stealing; acting like a thief”