thief — a person who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence
Pronunciation (IPA): /θiːf/
Example Sentences
- The pizza thief struck again - someone ate my leftover slice from the office fridge!
- My cat is a sock thief; I found ten socks under his bed.
- The police arrested the thief who had been robbing convenience stores.
thief
NOUN[/θiːf/]
a person who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence
Image coming soon
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old English þēof, which originated in Proto-Germanic, the common ancestor of Germanic languages. The root carries the meaning of taking something stealthily or in secret.
Breakdown
Old English þēof (thief) → Modern English thief. The word's Proto-Germanic root relates to concepts of hidden or furtive action, though it lacks productive morphological elements in its modern form.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The pizza thief struck again - someone ate my leftover slice from the office fridge!”
“My cat is a sock thief; I found ten socks under his bed.”
“The police arrested the thief who had been robbing convenience stores.”
“Time is the greatest thief of all - it steals our youth without us noticing.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.