thief

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English

Etymology

From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English þēof, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *þeubaz. Spelling from Northern England, where /eːo/ became [iə] rather than [eː]. (Compare the spelling of deep from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English deop.)

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: thēf, IPA(key): /θiːf/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /θif/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːf

Noun

thief (plural thieves)

  1. One who carries out a theft.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:thief
    • Shakespeare
      [...] water-thieves and land-thieves
  2. One who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.
    • 1557 February 13 (Gregorian calendar), Thomas Tusser, “74. A Digression.”, in A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, London: [] Richard Tottel, →OCLC, stanza 4:
      Take heed to false harlots, and more, ye wot what. / If noise ye heare, / Looke all be cleare: / Least drabs doe noie thee, / And theeues destroie thee.
  3. (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hall to this entry?)

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