purloin

pur·loin

verb \(ˌ)pər-ˈlȯin, ˈpər-ˌ\

Definition of PURLOIN

transitive verb

: to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust

— pur·loin·er noun

Examples of PURLOIN

1. <the studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale>

Origin of PURLOIN

Middle English, to put away, misappropriate, from Anglo-French purluigner to prolong, postpone, set aside, from pur- forward + luin, loing at a distance, from Latin longe, from longus long — more at purchase, long

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PURLOIN

Synonyms: appropriate, boost [slang], filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick [British slang], nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, steal, rip off, snitch, swipe, thieve

Related Words: burglarize, knock over, rob; loot, pillage, plunder, sack; carjack, hijack (also highjack); pick, rifle; poach, rustle, shoplift; collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take; mooch, sponge; abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit

Near Antonyms: buy, purchase; bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

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See Synonym Discussion at steal

Rhymes with PURLOIN

adjoin, Alboin, benzoin, Burgoyne, conjoin, Des Moines, disjoin, eloign, enjoin, essoin, recoin, rejoin, sainfoin, short loin, sirloin, subjoin