English Lexicon

Theft

/θɛft/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The act of stealing; the unlawful taking of someone else's property.

    "The theft of the car was reported to the police immediately."
  2. 2

    An instance of stealing; a specific act of theft.

    "The store experienced a theft last night, resulting in significant losses."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'theft' originates from Old English 'þyft', which is related to the Proto-Germanic '*þeubaz', meaning 'to steal'. The term has evolved through Middle English as 'thefte', reflecting a consistent meaning related to the act of stealing throughout its history.

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