purloin

[ per-loin, pur-loin ]
/ pərˈlɔɪn, ˈpɜr lɔɪn /

verb (used with object)

to take dishonestly; steal; filch; pilfer.

verb (used without object)

to commit theft; steal.

Origin of purloin

1400–50; late Middle English purloynen < Anglo-French purloigner to put off, remove, equivalent to pur- (< Latin prō- pro-1) + -loigner, derivative of loin at a distance, far off < Latin longē

OTHER WORDS FROM purloin

pur·loin·er, noun un·pur·loined, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for purloin

British Dictionary definitions for purloin

purloin
/ (pɜːˈlɔɪn) /

verb

to take (something) dishonestly; steal

Derived forms of purloin

purloiner, noun

Word Origin for purloin

C15: from Old French porloigner to put at a distance, from por- for + loin distant, from Latin longus long