Main Entry:

pur·loin

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)pər-ˈlȯin, ˈpər-ˌ\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

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

Date:

15th century

: to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust

synonyms see steal

— pur·loin·er noun