English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle English theft, thefte, þefte, þefþe, þiefþe, Old English þīefþ, from Proto-West Germanic *þiubiþu, from Proto-Germanic *þiubiþō, from *þeubaz (thief), equivalent to thief +‎ -th or thieve +‎ -th. Cognate with Old Frisian thiuvethe, thiufthe (theft), dialectal Dutch diefte (theft), obsolete German Diebde (theft), Icelandic þýfð (theft).

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /θɛft/
    • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛft

Noun edit

theft (countable and uncountable, plural thefts)

  1. The act of stealing property.
    resource theft
    Bike theft is on the rise.
    A suspect was arrested for the theft of a gold necklace.
    • 2007 July 5, Charles Hugh Smith, When Lies Become Normal, Is Truth Dead or Just in Hiding?[1]:
      If you steal a candy bar, you are guilty of theft, regardless of the value.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

Further reading edit

Middle English edit

Noun edit

theft

  1. Alternative form of thefte