purloin

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb make off with belongings of others

Etymology

From Middle English purloynen (“to remove”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman purloigner (“to put far away”), one of the variants of Old French porloignier. Doublet of prolong.

In classic literature

Synonyms

pilfer, cabbage, pinch, abstract, snarf, swipe, hook, sneak, filch, nobble, lift

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