Dictionary

thief en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈθɪi̯f]
• /ˈθiːf/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *þeubaz Proto-West Germanic *þeub Old English þēof Middle English thef English thief From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from Old English þēof, from Proto-West Germanic *þeub, from Proto-Germanic *þeubaz. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tjoof (“thief”), West Frisian tsjeaf (“thief”), Dutch dief (“thief”), Low German Deef, Deev (“thief”), German Dieb (“thief”), Danish tyv (“thief”), Swedish tjuv (“thief”), Icelandic þjófur (“thief”).

Meanings

1. One who carries out a theft.
   • water-thieves and land-thieves c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
2. One who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.
   • Take heed to false harlots, and more, ye wot what. / If noise ye heare, / Looke all be cleare: / Least drabs doe noie thee, / And theeues destroie thee. 1878, Thomas Tusser, “74. A Digression.”, in Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC; republished as W[illiam] Payne, Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], 1878, →OCLC, stanza 4, page 166:
3. (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
   • But hear you, my Worthy Brethren: do not you, where you see a thief in the candle, call presently for an extinguisher[…] 1640, Joseph Hall, Divine Light:

Forms

Deriveds

opportunity makes a thief · thief knot · wheat thief · thief palm · thiefwise · thief ant · thiefproof · thiefess · thievish · thiefhood · thief tube · thief-taker · outfangthief · water-thief · thief in law · opportunity makes the thief · oxygen thief · spellthief · wage thief · panel thief · thieflike · wine thief · time thief · joke thief · horsethief · thiefly · cricket thief spider · thief in the night · sampling thief · Unithieves · liquor thief · thiefship · police and thief · thiefness · thiefcraft · sneak thief · set a thief to catch a thief · thiefy · palm thief · horse thief · joule thief · a fair booty makes many a thief · procrastination is the thief of time · stop thief · thiefless · thiefdom · thick as thieves · cyberthief · comparison is the thief of joy

Hypernyms

seizer · criminal (one who carries out a theft) · grabber · taker · possessor · villain

Hyponyms

ravisher · brigand · plagiarist · Words & ideas · jacker · carjacker · Embezzlers · sheep-biter · pirate · plunderer · dacoit · looter · cutpurse · hijacker · rustler · cat burglar · robber · bandit · robberess · peculator · highwayman · snagger · sneak thief · kidnapper · sticky fingers · swiper · hooker · safebreaker · embezzler · burglar · With a pole · People · Vehicles · bank robber · With violence · burglaress · safecracker · converter · cracksman · twocker · nuthook · snatcher · angler · poacher · prig · porch pirate · abductor · Petty thieves · shoplifter · confidence trickster · thiefess · fraudster · kleptomaniac · pickpocket · Safes · mugger · dragsman

Relateds

theft · steal · deceiver · thieve

Synonyms

liberator · cribber · purloiner · filcher · thief · misappropriator · booster · abstractor · stealer · bagger · thiever · heister · larcenist · lifter · larcener · pincher · flogger · borrower · tea leaf · appropriator · nicker · snitch · faker

Translations (363)

lb Déif (one who carries out theft) · arn weñefe (one who carries out theft) · kmr diz (one who carries out theft) · be зладзе́йка (one who carries out theft) · gl regatiñeiro (one who carries out theft) · ota خرسز (one who carries out theft) · so tuug (one who carries out theft) · fr voleuse (one who carries out theft) · nap mariunciéllo (one who carries out theft) · es mangante (one who carries out theft) · ceb kawatan (one who carries out theft) · ky ууру (one who carries out theft) · ps غل (one who carries out theft) · xal хулхач (one who carries out theft) · tg дузд (one who carries out theft) · izh varas (one who carries out theft) · lad ladhron (one who carries out theft) · sv tjuv (one who carries out theft) · gd mèirleach (one who carries out theft) · ta திருடன் (one who carries out theft) · ur چور (one who carries out theft) · es amigo de lo ajeno (one who carries out theft) · tr hırsız (one who carries out theft) · ru воро́вка (one who carries out theft) · uk краді́й (one who carries out theft) · it malandrino (one who carries out theft) · bg краде́ц (one who carries out theft) · sh haràmija (one who carries out theft) · cy lleidr (one who carries out theft) · ml കള്ളൻ (one who carries out theft) · vi kẻ cắp (one who carries out theft) · vec ladron (one who carries out theft) · fa-ira دُزْد (one who carries out theft) · ny mbala (one who carries out theft) · grc κλέπτης (one who carries out theft) · ota اوغری (one who carries out theft) · mfe voler (one who carries out theft) · twf tràmpiʼína (one who carries out theft) · rgn lêdar (one who carries out theft) · rup chisãgi (one who carries out theft) · am ሌባ (one who carries out theft) · rup furcudar (one who carries out theft) · ms pencuri (one who carries out theft) · ngc moibi (one who carries out theft) · eu ebasle (one who carries out theft) · lld lère (one who carries out theft) · rsk крадош (one who carries out theft) · wa voleuse (one who carries out theft) · sva ქუ̂ით (one who carries out theft) · ru ворю́га (one who carries out theft) · ny mnkhungu (one who carries out theft) · uk зло́дій (one who carries out theft) · pms làder (one who carries out theft) · txb lyak (one who carries out theft) · lo ຂະໂມຍ (one who carries out theft) · tt карак (one who carries out theft) · war buyon (one who carries out theft) · ml മോഷ്ടാവ് (one who carries out theft) · mk крадец (one who carries out theft) · sid mooraancho (one who carries out theft) · ny wákúbá (one who carries out theft) · sl tatica (one who carries out theft) · io furtanto (one who carries out theft) · sq vjedhës (one who carries out theft) · got 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐍄𐌿𐍃 (one who carries out theft) · si හොරා (one who carries out theft) · rm lader (one who carries out theft) · ur سارِقَہ (one who carries out theft) · ckb دز (one who carries out theft) · it ladro (one who carries out theft) · nrf voleux (one who carries out theft) · vec ladro (one who carries out theft) · kg mwivi (one who carries out theft) · gl surpón (one who carries out theft) · pa ਚੋਰ (one who carries out theft) · vi kẻ trộm (one who carries out theft) · sh та̏т (one who carries out theft) · bg арами́йка (one who carries out theft) · wuu 賊 /贼 (one who carries out theft) · yi גנבֿטע (one who carries out theft) · oj gimoodishk (one who carries out theft) · ru вори́шка (one who carries out theft) · zza xırxız (one who carries out theft) · ee fiafi (one who carries out theft) · co latru (one who carries out theft) · tr harami (one who carries out theft) · cmn 賊 /贼 (one who carries out theft) · hu tolvaj (one who carries out theft) · hy գող (one who carries out theft) · ug ئوغرى (one who carries out theft) · lmo lader (one who carries out theft) · yao jwawiyi class 1 (one who carries out theft) · fa-ira سارِق (one who carries out theft) · ba уғры (one who carries out theft) · syc ܓܢܒܬܐ (one who carries out theft) · gl galafate (one who carries out theft) · scn larruni (one who carries out theft) · phn 𐤀𐤂𐤓𐤃 (one who carries out theft) · it mariolo (one who carries out theft) · es chorizo (one who carries out theft) · uz duzd (one who carries out theft) · my သူခိုး (one who carries out theft) · la latro (one who carries out theft) · pcm tiff (one who carries out theft) · ga gadaí (one who carries out theft) · iso oji (one who carries out theft) · rup caceac (one who carries out theft) · dng зый (one who carries out theft) · sw mnyang'anyi class I/II (one who carries out theft) · rhg sur (one who carries out theft) · lzz mamxire (one who carries out theft) · got 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐍆𐍃 (one who carries out theft) · gl ladrón (one who carries out theft) · km ចោរ (one who carries out theft) · sk zlodejka (one who carries out theft) · afb بايق (one who carries out theft) · frr tiif (one who carries out theft) · lez угъри (one who carries out theft) · el κλέφτης (one who carries out theft) · mk арамија (one who carries out theft) · gl gallofo (one who carries out theft) · wa volresse (one who carries out theft) · kw ladres (one who carries out theft) · es ladrón (one who carries out theft) · nl dievegge (one who carries out theft) · mi whānako (one who carries out theft) · liv salāj (one who carries out theft) · mg fangalarina (one who carries out theft) · nl dief (one who carries out theft) · kk ұры (one who carries out theft) · nap mariuólo (one who carries out theft) · ka ქურდი (one who carries out theft) · br laer (one who carries out theft) · scn latru (one who carries out theft) · tab угъри (one who carries out theft) · kn ಕಳ್ಳ (one who carries out theft) · is þjófur (one who carries out theft) · wym dīb (one who carries out theft) · ist laro (one who carries out theft) · hi सारिक (one who carries out theft) · hi चोर (one who carries out theft) · ar سَارِق (one who carries out theft) · sq vjedhëse (one who carries out theft) · enm thef (one who carries out theft) · ja 泥棒 (one who carries out theft) · uk зло́дійка (one who carries out theft) · oc laira (one who carries out theft) · eo ŝtelisto (one who carries out theft) · jv bajingan (one who carries out theft) · egy i-TA-A-D51:D40-A1 (one who carries out theft) · hil kawatan (one who carries out theft) · cim diip (one who carries out theft) · es chorifaite (one who carries out theft) · bo རྐུ་མ (one who carries out theft) · ar سَارِقَة (one who carries out theft) · es shacador (one who carries out theft) · or ଚୋର (one who carries out theft) · ta திருடி (one who carries out theft) · wyi be at tangi (one who carries out theft) · fa-ira حَرامی (one who carries out theft) · ilo mannanakaw (one who carries out theft) · tg сориқ (one who carries out theft) · pt ladrão (one who carries out theft) · cu зълодѣи (one who carries out theft) · sh lópov (one who carries out theft) · oc raubaira (one who carries out theft) · ko 도적 (one who carries out theft) · hak 賊仔 /贼仔 (one who carries out theft) · ktu muyibi (one who carries out theft) · cu татъ (one who carries out theft) · ar حَرَامِيَّة (one who carries out theft) · mn ᠬᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠢᠢᠴᠢ (one who carries out theft) · vo hitifan (one who carries out theft) · cmn 小偷 (one who carries out theft) · be зло́дзей (one who carries out theft) · ba ҡараҡ (one who carries out theft) · mwl lhadron (one who carries out theft) · as চোৰ (one who carries out theft) · fo tjóvur (one who carries out theft) · ki mũici (one who carries out theft) · ja 盗賊 (one who carries out theft) · mk крадачка (one who carries out theft) · la fūr (one who carries out theft) · da tyveknægt (one who carries out theft) · he גַּנָּב (one who carries out theft) · cmn 盜賊 /盗贼 (one who carries out theft) · ro hoață (one who carries out theft) · grc φώρ (one who carries out theft) · nds Deef (one who carries out theft) · rsk крадошка (one who carries out theft) · ab аӷьычҩы (one who carries out theft) · th ขโมย (one who carries out theft) · lo ໂຈນ (one who carries out theft) · bg арами́я (one who carries out theft) · de Dieb (one who carries out theft) · sl tat (one who carries out theft) · fur lari (one who carries out theft) · yua ookol (one who carries out theft) · ln moyibi (one who carries out theft) · ln moibi (one who carries out theft) · nan-hbl 勍仔 (one who carries out theft) · lv zagle (one who carries out theft) · hi सारिका (one who carries out theft) · sh кра̀дљивац (one who carries out theft) · su maling (one who carries out theft) · es caco (one who carries out theft) · nap ferraiuólo (one who carries out theft) · vec laro (one who carries out theft) · lt vagė (one who carries out theft) · ary سراق (one who carries out theft) · ar لِصَّة (one who carries out theft) · pt ladra (one who carries out theft) · ro hoț (one who carries out theft) · lad לאד׳רון (one who carries out theft) · ny nkhumbzi (one who carries out theft) · yue 賊 /贼 (one who carries out theft) · wmw mwivi (one who carries out theft) · sk zlodej (one who carries out theft) · an furtaire (one who carries out theft) · gld чово (one who carries out theft) · nap latro (one who carries out theft) · ur سارِق (one who carries out theft) · vo tifan (one who carries out theft) · tpi raskol (one who carries out theft) · ar حَرَامِيّ (one who carries out theft) · et varas (one who carries out theft) · sip རྐུན་ཅན (one who carries out theft) · inh къу (one who carries out theft) · prs دُزْد (one who carries out theft) · ta திருடர் (one who carries out theft) · ta கள்ளி (one who carries out theft) · nan-hbl 賊仔 /贼仔 (one who carries out theft) · ccc ma'koleti (one who carries out theft) · yi גנבֿ (one who carries out theft) · th โจร (one who carries out theft) · mk арамијка (one who carries out theft) · aqc цӏогьор (one who carries out theft) · ba бур (one who carries out theft) · ur دُزْد (one who carries out theft) · mnp 賊 /贼 (one who carries out theft) · nl gannef (one who carries out theft) · cs zlodějka (one who carries out theft) · rom ćor (one who carries out theft) · bal دز (one who carries out theft) · cmn 竊賊 /窃贼 (one who carries out theft) · dsb złoźej (one who carries out theft) · sh tȁt (one who carries out theft) · mi kaiā (one who carries out theft) · kw lader (one who carries out theft) · fi ryöväri (one who carries out theft) · tr karak (one who carries out theft) · ee fiafitɔ (one who carries out theft) · nap màneco 'ancino (one who carries out theft) · de Diebin (one who carries out theft) · tr kuldur (one who carries out theft) · sh хара̀мија (one who carries out theft) · zdj mwidzi (one who carries out theft) · nv aniʼįįhii (one who carries out theft) · af dief (one who carries out theft) · alt уур (one who carries out theft) · oc laire (one who carries out theft) · ang þēof (one who carries out theft) · hi दुज्द (one who carries out theft) · es chori (one who carries out theft) · gan 賊 /贼 (one who carries out theft) · gu દસ્યુ (one who carries out theft) · zza tırıter (one who carries out theft) · it taccheggiatore (one who carries out theft) · mi tāhae (one who carries out theft) · az oğru (one who carries out theft) · lt vagis (one who carries out theft) · sh kràdljivac (one who carries out theft) · rup haramiu (one who carries out theft) · it borsaiolo (one who carries out theft) · ta கள்ளன் (one who carries out theft) · egy a-V4-A-i-i-A24 (one who carries out theft) · cmn 宵小 (one who carries out theft) · pl złodziejka (one who carries out theft) · bcl paraikit (one who carries out theft) · nb tjuv (one who carries out theft) · vo jitifan (one who carries out theft) · fr voleur (one who carries out theft) · tl magnanakaw (one who carries out theft) · oc raubaire (one who carries out theft) · sco thief (one who carries out theft) · sw mwizi (one who carries out theft) · qu suwa (one who carries out theft) · ca lladre (one who carries out theft) · kmr dizîker (one who carries out theft) · ar لِصّ (one who carries out theft) · bn চোর (one who carries out theft) · fi voro (one who carries out theft) · id pencuri (one who carries out theft) · hsb paduch (one who carries out theft) · dng вэзый (one who carries out theft) · nn tjuv (one who carries out theft) · ko 도둑 (one who carries out theft) · ary شفار (one who carries out theft) · ast lladrón (one who carries out theft) · lij laddro (one who carries out theft) · syc ܓܢܒܐ (one who carries out theft) · hi दुज़्द (one who carries out theft) · sa चोरी (one who carries out theft) · acw سَرَّاق (one who carries out theft) · pl złodziej (one who carries out theft) · fi rosvo (one who carries out theft) · cv вӑрӑ (one who carries out theft) · ce къу (one who carries out theft) · chr ᎦᏃᏍᎩᏍᎩ (one who carries out theft) · uz oʻgʻri (one who carries out theft) · it ladruncolo (one who carries out theft) · it borseggiatore (one who carries out theft) · hi सारिक़ा (one who carries out theft) · ks ژوٗر (one who carries out theft) · lo ກະໂມຽ (one who carries out theft) · tk ogry (one who carries out theft) · sa चोर (one who carries out theft) · hi सारिक़ (one who carries out theft) · uli choamwacchog (one who carries out theft) · mt ħalliel (one who carries out theft) · da tyv (one who carries out theft) · gl lespio (one who carries out theft) · non þjófr (one who carries out theft) · wa voleu (one who carries out theft) · eu lapur (one who carries out theft) · te దొంగ (one who carries out theft) · lad ladrón (one who carries out theft) · tyv оор (one who carries out theft) · koi гусь (one who carries out theft) · arz حرامى (one who carries out theft) · mr चोर (one who carries out theft) · fi varas (one who carries out theft) · ota حرامی (one who carries out theft) · ne चोर (one who carries out theft) · ccp 𑄌𑄪𑄢𑄴 (one who carries out theft) · scn latruni (one who carries out theft) · vi kẻ ăn trộm (one who carries out theft) · it scippatore (one who carries out theft) · rup fur (one who carries out theft) · cs zloděj (one who carries out theft) · grc κλώψ (one who carries out theft) · ru вор (one who carries out theft) · jv maling (one who carries out theft) · av цӏогьор (one who carries out theft) · gl ladroeiro (one who carries out theft) · mg kary (one who carries out theft) · wuu 賊骨頭 /贼骨头 (one who carries out theft) · rm leder (one who carries out theft) · om hattuu (one who carries out theft) · ja 窃盗者 (one who carries out theft) · uk краді́йка (one who carries out theft) · ta கள்ளர் (one who carries out theft) · sh ло́пов (one who carries out theft) · mn ᠬᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠢ (one who carries out theft) · mn хулгай (one who carries out theft) · mn хулгайч (one who carries out theft) · acw حرامي (one who carries out theft) · lv zaglis (one who carries out theft) · tr uğru (one who carries out theft) · frp lârro (one who carries out theft) · nb tyv (one who carries out theft) · it ladra (one who carries out theft) · tly دزد (one who carries out theft)