stealv.¹

Brit.

/stiːl/, U.S.

/stil/

Forms: Old English ( ge)stelan, Middle English stelin, steolin, Middle English stelen, Middle English–1600s stele, Middle English stel(le, steln, Middle English steele, Middle English–1500s Scottish steile, steyle, Middle English stelyn, steyl(l, Middle English–1500s Scottish steill, 1500s staile, steel, stell, 1500s–1600s steale, Scottish steil, 1500s– steal. past tense Old English–Middle English stæl, (plural stǽlon), Middle English plural stalen, Middle English stel, Middle English–1500s stal, Middle English plural stelyn, stolen, Middle English staal(e, Middle English–1500s stall, Middle English–1600s stale, Middle English–1700s Scottish staw, Middle English staall(e, stele, Scottish sta, stawe, 1500s stalle, Scottish staill, Middle English– stole. Also (weak forms) 1600s, 1800s dialect stealed, 1500s stolled, 1800s dialect stoalt. past participle Old English ( ge)stolen, Middle English istolen, Middle English i-stole, Middle English stollyn, stoolen, ystole, Scottish stowine, Middle English stoll(e, stolyn, Middle English–1600s stollen, stolne, Middle English–1700s stole, stoln, Middle English ystolne, Scottish stone, stowyn, Middle English–1600s stollin, stollyne, stollyng, Scottish stoune, stowin, stowne, 1500s northern stowen, 1700s Scottish sta'en, 1700s–1800s Scottish and dialect stown, Middle English– stolen. Also (weak forms) 1500s stolled, stollyd, 1500s, 1800s dialect stealed.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.

Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English stelan, past tense stæl, plural stǽlon, past participle stolen, corresponds to Old Frisian stela, Old Saxon stelan, Dutch stelen, Old High German stelan (Middle High German steln, modern German stehlen), Old Norse stela (Swedish stjäla, Danish stjæle), Gothic stilan, < Germanic *stel- (:stal-: stǣl-: stul-). Outside Germanic no certain cognates are known. In the 14th cent. the regular form stal of the past tense began to be superseded by stole (after the past participle), which has been the accepted form since the 17th cent. The Bible of 1611 has in two places stale (but modern reprints stole), and in four places stole. The weak forms stealed, and the mixed forms stolled, stoald, appear in the 16th cent. and in modern dialects, but have never been general.

I. To take dishonestly or secretly.

a. transitive. To take away dishonestly (portable property, cattle, etc., belonging to another); esp. to do this secretly or unobserved by the owner or the person in charge. Const. from (earlier dative).The notion of secrecy (cf. stealth n.) seems to be part of the original meaning of the verb, which, however, is also employed in a generic sense applicable to open as well as secret acts of theft. In modern use it takes the place of reave v.¹ 3, rob v. 5, and of combinations like ‘to steal and reave’.

ΚΠ

c1000 Ælfric Genesis xliv. 8 Wenst þu, þæt we þines hlafordes gold oððe his seolfor stælon?

a1250 Prov. Ælfred B. 665 He wole stelin þin haite & keren, & listeliche onsuerren.

c1290 Beket 816 in S. Eng. Leg. 130 ‘Bel ami, þou hast’, quad þe king: ‘i-stole me muchel guod’.

1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 77 Þe Normans did it alle in þe guyse of theft, Þe godes þerof stal.

1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 65 Oon of þis secounde Richard his knyȝtes staal a spone, and leyde it to wedde among oþer þinges.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4936 Quils i sald þam o mi sede þai stall mi cupe a-wai to lede.

1400 in Roy. & Hist. Lett. Hen. IV (Rolls) 38 Thu knowlechest..that thy men hath stolle our horsen out of our parke.

c1450 Mirk's Festial 14 When þys Jew was comen home and fonde hys good ystolne, he was wod wroth wyt Saynt Nycholas.

c1480 (a1400) Seven Sleepers 311 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 435 Be lawty þu telis ws now..quhare þat þu has stowine þis tresoure ore reft.

a1500 Beket's Prophecies in Bernardus de Cura Rei Fam. 23 Now has a boy stone Þe brydylle of his blonke hede, agayne he buske shulde.

a1500 Ratis Raving iii. 302 He is a theif rycht as he stald.

1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. xi. sig. Eii^v As did the pure penitent that stale a goose, And stak downe a fether.

1595 W. Warner tr. Plautus Menaecmi v. sig. D2^v Euen now thou deniedst that thou stolest it [sc. the cloak] from me, and now thou bringest it home openly in my sight.

1677 in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 37 Some mischievous persons to dishonour my Lord Chancellour crept through a window of his house..and stole the Mace and the two purses.

1738 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) I. 121 Both my books were stole.

1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 387 And my fause luver staw the rose, But..left the thorn wi' me.

1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 512 He who steals a little steals with the same wish as he who steals much.

1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. xlviii. 148 Yes; I stole money from Philemon, my beloved master.

1909 J. G. Frazer Psyche's Task iii. 23 Whoever steals sticks from the fence will have a swollen head.

†b. with of used partitively. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4904 He þat has yow don socur Stoln haue yee of his tresur.

c1400 Rule St. Benet 569 Of oþer mens we sal not steyl Ne couet here no wordly wele.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 112/2 Judas..bare the purse..and stale of that whiche was gyuen to cryst.

c. with away, †out, †over.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > taking surreptitiously > take surreptitiously [verb (transitive)]

forsteala940

stealc950

undernimc1175

to run away with?c1430

embezzle1469

steal?1473

surrept1548

cloyne1549

abstract1555

secrete1749

smuggle1768

to run off1821

snakea1861

sneak1883

snitch1904

palm1941

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)] > steal movable property

steal?1473

?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 219^v How Cacus stale away the Oxen & kyen longyng to hercules.

c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 448 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 317 Þefis..in þe circle þane but dout ȝed, for to steile þe catel owte.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale awaye a thing by thefte, je emble.

1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare xiv. 498 The people of Israel, by his Commaundement, stale away the Egyptians goodes, without breache of the Lawe.

1577 J. Dee Gen. Mem. Arte Nauig. 23 (margin) Though of Late in the..Low Country Trublesome disorders, Some Few (by Stealing ouer of vittayles, and other things, from this Common Wealth) haue made them selues priuatly rich.

c1610–15 Life Holie Dympna in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 48 They stale away the coffins and reliques.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 78. ⁋5 A Pickpocket, who during his kissing her stole away all his Money.

1883 E. B. Tylor in Encycl. Brit. XV. 199/2 The sorcerer has other means of attacking his victim:..he can steal away his kidney fat.

d. In wider sense: To take or appropriate dishonestly (anything belonging to another, whether material or immaterial).

ΚΠ

c1275 Sinners Beware! 153 in Old Eng. Misc. 77 In helle he may adrynke If he steleþ cristes theoþinge.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 26 Þo byeþ ypocrites..steleþ þe dingnetes and þe baylyes.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3988 I stal him fra his benisun.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3516 How yonger o þir tua þe blissing stal his broþer fra.

1477 T. Norton Ordinall of Alchimy ii, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 34 For when I had my warke well wrought, Such stale it away and left me nought.

1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. ii. 67 Affirming, that deceitfully..he had stolne many Cities and places of importance belonging to the Crown of England.

a1704 T. Brown Dialogues of Dead in 4th Vol. Wks. (1720) 173 By which [treaty] he was oblig'd to vomit up numberless Provinces and Towns, which he had dishonourably stollen from their true Proprietors.

1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. i. 13 You not only steal my ideas,..but [etc.]..No man like you for stealing other men's inventions.

e. esp. To plagiarize; to pass off (another's work) as one's own; to ‘borrow’ improperly (words, expressions). Also absol.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > plagiarism > plagiarize [verb (transitive)]

usurpc1412

steal1544

plagiarize1660

book-pad1685

pirate1706

cabbage1773

crib1778

lift1885

plunder1896

society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [verb (transitive)] > plagiarize

steal1544

1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre Ep. Ded. sig. A vj^v All translatours ought to vse the vsuall termes of our englyshe tounge..and not to breke..in to the boundes of the latyn tounge, to steale termes of it.

1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 21 His Motto is stolne out of Tully, Non solum pro nobis.

1620 J. Taylor Praise of Hemp-seed 36 I haue not stolne a sillable, or letter From any man, to make my booke seeme better.

1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 106 When he might have stollen the writings of Thucydides.., he chose rather to publish them with honour.

1716 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 331 He steals unmercifully, and amongst the Rest from Naunton's.

1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands I. 201 It was stolen as genius steals from genius, it was stolen as Phidias stole from Homer.

f. To derive obscurely and dishonourably.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 150 Who know not from what Corner of the Earth The obscure Wretch, who got you, stole his Birth.

g. With a person as quasi-obj., in to steal (someone) blind, to rob or cheat (someone) totally or mercilessly. colloquial (originally North American).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > perpetrate (a swindle) [verb (transitive)] > defraud or swindle

defraud1362

deceivec1380

plucka1500

lurch1530

defeata1538

souse1545

lick1548

wipe1549

fraud1563

use1564

cozen1573

nick1576

verse1591

rooka1595

trim1600

skelder1602

firk1604

dry-shave1620

fiddle1630

nose1637

foista1640

doa1642

sharka1650

chouse1654

burn1655

bilk1672

under-enter1692

sharp1699

stick1699

finger1709

roguea1714

fling1749

swindle1773

jink1777

queer1778

to do over1781

jump1789

mace1790

chisel1808

slang1812

bucket1819

to clean out1819

give it1819

to put in the hole1819

ramp1819

sting1819

victimize1839

financier1840

gum1840

snakea1861

to take down1865

verneuk1871

bunco1875

rush1875

gyp1879

salt1882

daddle1883

work1884

to have (one) on toast1886

slip1890

to do (a person) in the eye1891

sugar1892

flay1893

to give (someone) the rinky-dink1895

con1896

pad1897

screw1900

short-change1903

to do in1906

window dress1913

ream1914

twist1914

clean1915

rim1918

tweedle1925

hype1926

clip1927

take1927

gazump1928

yentz1930

promote1931

to take (someone) to the cleaners1932

to carve up1933

chizz1948

stiff1950

scam1963

to rip off1969

to stitch up1970

skunk1971

to steal (someone) blind1974

diddle-

1974 Times 28 Feb. 9/5 Mr. Howard Hughes, the eccentric multimillionaire..replied: ‘Because he's a no-good, dishonest son of a bitch, and he stole me blind.’

1975 Citizen (Ottawa) 29 Oct. 21/2 Trustee Dalton McGuinty..said there was no other way to keep students from ‘stealing us blind’.

1977 I. Shaw Beggarman, Thief i. ii. 21 We'd've been stolen blind without him.

1978 D. Bagley Flyaway xxi. 182 These people are Fulani... We're not staying here—they'd steal us blind.

2. absol. and intransitive. To commit or practise theft. †Const. dative of person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (intransitive)]

stealc725

thievec920

bribec1405

pluck?a1425

prowl1546

strike1567

to make away with1691

fake1819

snam1824

snig1862

to help oneself1868

boost1912

score1914

snoop1924

c725 Corpus Gloss. C 859 Conpilat, stilith.

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John x. 10 Ðeaf ne cymes buta þæte gestele & eteð & losað.

a1000 Laws of Æthelb. ix Gif frigman freum stelþ.

c1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 Seodðan bisechen milce et þan ilke monne þe he haueð er istolen oðer oðer-weis wa idon.

a1200 Vices & Virtues 67 Ne sleih, ne ne stell, ne reaue.

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 134 For every thief upon richesse Awaiteth forto robbe and stele.

c1480 (a1400) St. Matthias 246 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 229 Þo he wes thefe & ay wald steyle.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 286/3 Ther was a theef that ofte stale.

1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 45 The Souldiours stale, extorted, and spoyled vpon both parties.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 238 We steale by lyne and leuell.

c1660 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. iv. 100 About 80 torres..doe continually robe and stele.

1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 16 By which every Man might..so be preserved from the fatal necessity of stealing.

1815 M. Elphinstone Acct. Kingdom Caubul iii. i. 364 They plunder weak travellers, and steal from those who are too strong to be plundered.

1871 R. W. Dale Ten Commandm. viii. 208 To give short weight or measure, is to steal.

a. transitive. To take away by stratagem or by eluding observation (something that is in the possession or keeping of another).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > taking surreptitiously > take surreptitiously [verb (transitive)]

forsteala940

stealc950

undernimc1175

to run away with?c1430

embezzle1469

steal?1473

surrept1548

cloyne1549

abstract1555

secrete1749

smuggle1768

to run off1821

snakea1861

sneak1883

snitch1904

palm1941

c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxviii. 13 Cuoðað gie þætte ðegnas his on næht cuomun &..stelende weron hine.

a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 2652 He priked to the galewes with his fole, And fond that a thef was i-stole.

c1440 Alphabet of Tales 281 Þe aungell stale þe syluer copp at þai dranke of.

c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 14 Þei pulled up sail & stale þe schip from hir.

1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 14 Lyons, (which usually steale Beefe out of the water when Ships are here).

1749 G. Lavington Enthusiasm Methodists & Papists: Pt. II Pref. p. xxvii You have climbed up, and stole the sacred Fire from Heaven.

1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory i, in Poems 58 Thou who stealest fire From the fountains of the past.

b. with away; rarely with other adverbs, as †down, †over.

ΚΠ

1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur iv. xiv. 137 She alyghte of her hors & thoughte for to stele awey Excalibur his swerd.

c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 401 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 40 Men..stall a-way be nycht þe twa bodis of mekill mycht of petir and paule, fra quhare þai lay.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 392 Quietlie awa the heid tha stall.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella xiv Vpon whose breast a fiercer Gripe doth tire Then did on him who first stale down the fire.

1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Nero xii, (Letter) And bad them say, that his disciples stale his corps away.

a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. B2^v This is Hannce Hoffmans sonne. that stole downe his fathers Anotamy from the gallowes.

1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy ii. 31 Shall I fetch a Barbour to steale away his rough beard, whiles he sleepes?

1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. iv. 160 Many look With tears of sorrow on a mortal creature Whom death may steal away.

c. Of an impersonal agent.

ΚΠ

1844 A. B. Welby Poems (1867) 60 The wind! that for no creature careth, Yet stealeth sweets from every thing.

1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 72 The heat of the sun which quietly steals vapour from every exposed piece of water.

d. To carry off (young animals) from the dam.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > stealing animals > [verb (transitive)] > carry off young animals

steal13..

nugget1881

13.. K. Alis. 1890 The tiger, that fynt y-stole Hire weolp from hire hole.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. cxiii. 1262 The femel bere hatte vrsa and is most cruel beste whanne hire whelpes beþ ystole.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1769 Ther nas no tygre..Whan þ^t hir whelp is stole whan it is lyte So cruel on the hunte as is Arcite.

a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 746 in Poems (1981) 32 Fra the gait he stall ane lytil kid.

e. To carry off, abduct, kidnap (a person) secretly. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > kidnapping or abduction > kidnap or abduct [verb (transitive)]

reavec1175

ravishc1330

stealc1386

proloyne1439

rapec1450

abduce1537

rapt1571

spirit1657

kidnap1682

abduct1772

nobble1877

shanghai1919

snatch1932

c1386 G. Chaucer Doctor's Tale 184 My seruant..Which fro myn hous was stole vp-on a nyght.

a1505 R. Henryson Bludy Serk 19 in Poems (1981) 159 Stollin he hes the lady ȝing.

1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. x. 45 Him sall I sownd slepand staile away.

c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13197 Þat onone in the night, þat noble he stale Fro the souerain hir Syre.

a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Nyne Fyrst Bks. Eneidos (1562) x. sig. Ffiiij Was it by my conduct, thaduoutrer stale the Sparta quene?

?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda iv. ii. 72 O wicked Turque, for to steale her hence.

1690 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) V. 41 Executed..for being Compl<i>ce with Campbel..for stealing away a young heiresse.

1710 W. King Heathen Gods & Heroes (1722) xv. 63 She [sc. Proserpine] was stole away by Aidoneus.

1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xv. 208 Their forcible abduction and marriage; which is vulgarly called stealing an heiress.

1788 E. Inchbald Child of Nature iv. ii. 51 Amanthis is lost, gone, stole from me!

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. xi. 181 The young Laird was stown away by a randy gipsy woman.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. iii. v. 184 Intent on stealing Majesty to Metz.

†f. To capture (a fortress, a military position) by surprise. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > capture or acquire by conquest

i-wina1000

wina1122

fang?c1200

catchc1275

conquer1297

geta1400

stealc1400

conquer1475

conquest1485

conques1488

evict1560

carry1579

intake1646

constrain1700

capture1796

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1778 Þay..Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen, Stelen stylly þe toun er any steuen rysed.

c1450 Brut ii. 424 This Erle of Gascoigne..come be nyght, and stale the toune of Pounteyse of the Frensshe men, and drof hem oute.

1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 73 It is better therefore to endeuour priuily, to steale, if we can, and to lay hold of..a peece of the void mountaine, than [etc.].

g. dialect. To catch (wildfowl). ? Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (transitive)] > catch birds

steal1698

1698 M. Martin Late Voy. St. Kilda 111 Some Thousands being Catch'd, or, as they term it, Stolen every March.

4. In various applications with immaterial object.

a. To cause the loss of, take away (something valued, e.g. happiness, a person's life, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > loss > taking away > take away [verb (transitive)]

atbraidOE

benimOE

fornimOE

to reach upOE

reaveOE

bilacchea1325

to take away1372

stealc1374

privea1387

beneme1387

reach?a1400

deprivec1400

subduce1434

embezzle1469

pluckc1475

fortakea1500

raima1500

devest1538

rig1573

imbolish1592

exact1660

drain1673

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 1451 O crueel day accusour of þe Ioye That nyght and loue han stole and faste y-wryen.

1570 R. Sempill Spur to Lordis (single sheet) Thay Renigats..Hes stollin our Regentis lyfe.

1645 J. Milton Sonnet vii, in Poems 49 How soon hath Time the suttle theef of youth, Stoln on his wing my three and twentith yeer!

a1721 M. Prior Poet. Wks. (1779) II. 103 Why dost thou..steal from life the needful hours of rest?

1777 W. Jones Palace of Fortune 24 A sudden cloud his senses stole.

1793 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 695 Her heart was tint, her peace was stown.

1806 G. Pinckard Notes W. Indies III. 269 Which..frequently causes us to steal another hour from the already too shortened day.

b. To take without permission (esp. a kiss). †Also (cf. sense 6) to give (a kiss) to a person.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > kiss > [verb (transitive)] > take (a kiss) without permission

steal1390

1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 348 If thou hast stolen eny cuss Or other thing which therto longeth.

a1400–50 Wars Alex. 5385 Scho..stelis to him cussis.

1584 T. Lodge Delect. Hist. Forbonius & Prisceria (Shaks. Soc.) 99 Her pleasant kisse where she might steale a touch.

1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Eiij Lest she should steale a kisse and die forsworne.

1598 T. Bastard Chrestoleros ii. ii. 28 And yet a second course he vndertakes. And steeling leaue for gayne which is so deare, A third and fourth aduenture yet he makes.

a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 910 O let me steal one liquid kiss!

1838 Times 14 Apr. 7/3 Mr. John Cunningham..appeared to answer the charge of stealing a sly kiss from the lips of..the pretty wife of a young tonsor.

†c. To conceal improperly. (Cf. 5) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > hide, conceal [verb (transitive)] > improperly

steal1303

1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 3691 No pryde ne may be stole, No yn shryfte be forhole.

†d. To gain by secret or unobtrusive means. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > secretly

stealc1426

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > gain

stealc1426

suborn1541

smuggle1768

snakea1861

c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 48 Sum men þer ben þat stelon heuen With penans, prayers, and pouerte.

1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles ii. i. 371, 378 That hath stolne By his meere industry, and that by spurts Such qualities as no wit else can match With plodding at perfection every houre... I meane, besides his dycing and his wenching, He has stolne languages, th'Italian, Spanish, [etc.].

e. To take (time) by contrivance from its ordinary employment, sleep, etc. to devote to some other purpose.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > save or spare time

redeem1526

steal1526

spare1548

save?1556

behusband?a1639

retrieve1688

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Qii^v Be euer diligent..whan thou hast done all thy dutyes..to stele tyme, wherin thou mayst gyue thyselfe all holy to prayer.

1712 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 18 Nov. (1948) II. 577 This makes me sometimes steal a week from the exactness I used to write to Md.

1758 S. Hayward Seventeen Serm. xvii. 515 They must frequently steal an hour to converse with him [Christ] whom they love.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 409 Both Chief Justice Hale and Lord Keeper Guildford stole some hours from the business of their courts to write on hydrostatics.

f. To gain possession of, or to entice away from another (a person's heart, affections, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > attract, allure, or entice [verb (transitive)] > away

ofdraw?c1225

spana1250

to draw awayc1384

slock1483

steal1526

over-tempt1643

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kiii^v Wherby he steleth many a soule fro god.

1587 D. Fenner Song of Songs iv. 9 Sister, my spouse, my hart thou hast stole with one eye Myne hart thou hast stole, with one chayne which on thy necke doeth lye.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc2 So did she steale his heedelesse hart away.

1596 J. Davies Orchestra lxxxvi. sig. C1 And they who first Religion did ordaine, By dauncing first the peoples harts did steale.

1605 1st Pt. Jeronimo sig. D3 Intending as it seemed by that sly shift, To steale away her troth.

1668 J. Flavell Saint Indeed 211 Take heed..least thy shop steal away thy heart from thy closet.

1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 108 Or hath some worthier Love Stole your Affections?

1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. viii. 28 His expression [was]..so moving, that he stole away the Assent of all that heard him.

1720 J. Welwood Pref. to Rowe's Lucan p. xxxix The Muses had stoln away his heart from his infancy.

1794 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 739 Thou hast stown my very heart.

1835 G. P. R. James Gipsy i How many would steal from one the affection of one's mistress or wife!

†g. To adopt or ‘borrow’ (what belongs to another art). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. B3 Both he [sc. Herodotus] and all the rest that followed him, either stole or vsurped of Poetrie, their passionate describing of passions [etc.].

h. to steal (the) picture, scene, show: (colloquial (originally U.S.)) in theatrical contexts, to outshine unexpectedly the rest of the cast; also transferred, to become or make oneself the centre of attention; to steal (one's) thunder: see thunder n. 3d.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display or show off [verb (intransitive)] > become or make oneself centre of attention

to steal (the) picture, scene, show1928

society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performer > appear as performer [verb (intransitive)] > be conspicuous success

to fill the bill1882

to steal (the) picture, scene, show1928

1928 Amer. Speech 3 368 If a ‘part’ actor leaves a better impression on the audience and critics than the ‘star’,..the ‘part’ actor or actress ‘steals’ the picture.

1934 Everyman 24 Aug. 201/2 (caption) It seems we've stolen the show, Aussie.

1937 H. G. Wells Brynhild ix. 143 He appeared in bright new flannels,..the best-looking author in the bunch. He stole the picture.

a1940 F. S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1941) iii. 37 ‘Somebody been catching flies on him?’ she asked—a phrase for stealing scenes.

1942 E. Waugh Put out More Flags iii. 189 They came to the little party.., and stole the scene.

1962 W. H. Auden Dyer's Hand (1963) 185 Short of cutting him [sc. Falstaff] out of the play altogether, no producer can prevent him from stealing the show.

1979 Tucson (Arizona) Mag. Jan. 55/3 Kate Gardiner could well steal the show in the delectable role of Dorine.

a. To effect or accomplish clandestinely or unperceived; to get opportunity for (an action) by contrivance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)]

steal1625

sneaka1657

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 59 Alwayes, when thou changest thine Opinion, or Course, professe it plainly and declare it..; And doe not thinke to steale it.

1681 H. More Plain Expos. Daniel 53 He might spring up with them and amongst them, but in such an occult manner, and so unawares, as if he had stoln his growth behind them.

1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iv. 31 What a mad coil you keep here, That people cannot steal a Nap, or sleep here?

1758 C. Lennox Henrietta II. v. ix. 267 I will make you no apology for stealing a visit to her.

1826 T. Hood Recipe for Civilization 86 When their force Can't take a town by open courage They steal an entry with its forage.

1857 J. Hamilton Lessons from Great Biogr. 264 He did not steal an interview [with Jesus], nor come, like Nicodemus, disguised.

†b. With adjective complement or adverb. to steal oneself drunk: to get drunk secretly. to steal down (Scottish): to cause to fall, ruin, by secret means.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to > by secret means

to steal down1570

tamper1817

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > destroy

to steal down1570

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > operate secretly [verb (intransitive)] > get drunk

to steal oneself drunk1670

the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > get drunk > secretly

to steal oneself drunk1670

1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xvii. 101 Thy poysoun did doun steill Not only him quhom wofully thow woundit; Bot [etc.].

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 22 Machabie deuyses to cal Bancho and Fleanch..till a banket, that be sik a trayne quyetlie he may steil thame doune.

1670 T. Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 67 So accordingly he stole himself drunk.

1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 41 The difference of hot or cold Summers does steal more considerably forward, or set back the same Fruits, of one and the same Climate and Season.

c. To direct (a look), breathe (a sigh) furtively.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > direct look or sigh

steala1586

slink1923

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xiv. sig. I6^v As I..stale a looke on her.

1697 J. Dryden Alexander's Feast iv. 4 And, now and then, a Sigh he stole.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 106. ¶1 I have observed them stealing a Sight of me over an Hedge.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. vi. 181 She stole a glance at them.

1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. iii. 54 He stole a shy pleased look at me.

†d. to steal a marriage: to get married secretly. Obsolete. [Compare Greek γάμον κλέπτειν.]

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > [verb (intransitive)] > marry secretly

to steal a marriagea1500

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxi. 363 This mariage wolde he haue stole hadde no Merlin I-be.

1562 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 189 They did steale a mariage without banes askinge.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 133. ⁋7 A story I had heard of his intending to steal a marriage without the privity of us his intimate friends.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 130 You have stolen a Wedding it seems... How does your Lady unknown?

1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. x. vi. 287 ‘Your daughter..has made a little change in her situation, which she was anxious you should hear from myself.’ ‘Ha! ha! stolen a match upon you I warrant!’ cried the facetious Mr. Hobson.

a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) III. x. 326 He..had stolen a marriage with an idiot sister of the Spanish Charles Townshend.

c1820 S. Rogers Marguerite de Tours in Italy 45 They stole a match and fled.

e. to steal a march: in military sense, to succeed in moving troops without the knowledge of the enemy; hence gen. to get a secret advantage over a rival or opponent. Const. on, upon, †of.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > outmanoeuvre

to steal a march1716

society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > outmanoeuvre

to steal a march1716

outgeneral1767

outmanoeuvre1796

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] > succeed in moving troops by stealth

to steal a march1716

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage > secretly

to steal a march1716

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > cheat, swindle [phrase] > get the better of

to do brown?1548

to give one the (or a) slampant1577

to play the merchant with1593

to come (or put) Yorkshire on one1700

to steal a march1716

to come (also act, play, etc.) the old soldier (over a person)1810

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > treat cunningly [verb (transitive)] > circumvent or overreach

overgoc1275

circumvene1526

circumvent1564

undercreep1592

overreach1594

circuit1614

out-juggle1620

outwit?1630

out-plot1648

overwit1671

Cretizea1673

outjockey1714

to steal a march1771

to get over ——1784

Jew1825

outfox1872

outsmart1926

blindside1968

1716 Addr. Edinb. 27 Mar. in London Gaz. No. 5422/2 We saw him..steal a March for our Preservation.

1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber vi. 114 After we had stolen some few Days March upon them.

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 127 She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. iv. 69 We must be off early to-morrow, while these good people are in bed, and steal a long march upon them.

1844 E. A. Poe in Godey's Lady's Bk. Sept. 133/1 He evidently intended to steal a march upon me, and smuggle a fine picture to New York, under my very nose.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 519 Those who had intended to gain the victory by stealing a march now disclaimed that intention.

1856 C. Reade It is never too Late II. ii. 18 Happening to awake earlier than usual, he stole a march on his nurses, and..walked out and tottered into the jail.

1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus 100 He shan't have the chance: we'll steal a march on him this time.

1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party ii. 93 He's quite triumphant Because he thinks he's stolen a march on her.

†f. To get a hasty glance at. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > succeed in seeing or catch sight of

underyetec1000

aspya1250

kenc1275

ofyetec1275

choosea1300

akenc1300

descrivec1300

ofkenc1300

readc1300

espyc1320

descryc1330

spyc1380

discernc1405

discover1553

scan1558

scry1558

decern1559

describe1574

to make out1575

escry1581

interview1587

display1590

to set sight of (in)c1595

sight1602

discreevec1650

glance1656

to catch a glimpse of1679

steal1731

oversee1735

glimpse1779

twig1796

to clap eyes on1838

spot1848

sky1900

1731 H. Fielding Letter-writers i. ii. 7 Will you go steal an Act or two of the new Tragedy? Rak. Not I—I go to no Tragedy.

g. In various games, esp. Cricket, Golf, Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey (see quots.). Also figurative. Also intransitive (in Baseball), esp. in to steal home.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (transitive)] > score

get1634

make1680

score1742

notch1836

steal1836

to put up1860

rattle1860

to put on1865

tally1875

net1907

to rack up1921

slam1959

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > steal (a base)

steal1836

pilfer1887

1836 New Sporting Mag. Oct. 361 [The batsmen's scores] added to the byes they stole, and the wide balls bowled, sufficed to make a hands of eighty-six runs.

1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field x. 196 A sharp runner..will often try a longstop's temper by stealing runs.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 388 He has stolen three byes in the first ten minutes.

1862 N.Y. Sunday Mercury 13 July 6/2 Creighton..made his base by a missed fly-catch of Sawyer's; Brainard and Young getting their runs by stealing in on the pitcher and catcher.

1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 47 If he [the batsman] steal home on the catcher or pitcher.

1881 R. Forgan Golfer's Handbk. 35 Steal, to hole an unlikely ‘put’ from a distance.

1882 Daily Tel. 24 June He next took Ramsay round to the leg boundary, and shortly stole a single off him also.

1891 N. Crane Baseball iv. 32 His antics in trying to deceive the fielders and steal a base excite great amusement among the..spectators.

1895 G. J. Manson Sporting Dict. Stealing a Base. When a base runner makes his next base by leading off and then running while the ball is being thrown by the pitcher to the catcher.

1895 Times 19 Feb. 11/4 The Englishmen were able to steal many runs.

1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 247/1 (Cricket) Steal runs, to get a run for a hit, when no run seems reasonably possible.

1936 Philadelphia Rec. 31 July 15/1 No Landon speech is likely to startle anybody. You know in advance that he will never take a full cut at the ball, try to steal a base or catch a line drive with one hand.

1938 M. Dutton Hockey vi. 110 It is hard enough to steal the puck in your own end zone, without trying to regain a lost puck in the other fellow's.

1942 C. Bee Basketball Library IV. ii. 7 An attempt to ‘steal’ the ball from a good dribbler often leaves the defensive player out of position.

1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 5 Feb. 18/3 Ballantyne was ahead 5–3 going into the sixth end, but Lawrie tied it up in the seventh and stole one in each of eighth and ninth for the victory.

1978 Boston Globe 4 Jan. 42/2 Hollins stole the ball with seven seconds to play and scored.

a. To place, move, or convey stealthily. Now somewhat rare. †to steal on: to put on (one's clothes, etc.) hastily, so as not to be observed (obsolete). to steal (some one or something) in: to smuggle in, procure secret entrance for.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards or approach (a thing, place, or person) [verb (transitive)] > stealthily

to steal ona1400

the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > convey or transport > in a stealthy manner

steala1400

convey1526

smuggle1783

slive1821

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > convey

shovec1374

steala1400

smuggle1783

slive1821

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > surreptitiously or subtly

to steal (some one or something) ina1555

shuffle1565

slink1567

to come in at (also by) the window1590

insinuate1600

wimble1605

screw1614

sneak1680

oil1925

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > bring in > surreptitiously

underbring1382

to steal (some one or something) ina1555

subintroducteda1641

subintroduce1643

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > introduce

to steal (some one or something) ina1555

insinuate1578

filch?1589

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > put on > in hasty or careless manner

warpa1400

to throw ona1450

slip?a1513

slip1590

to steal on1649

huddle1697

slive1820

scuffle1844

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3872 Bot þar [Laban] did a trecheri, For þan [Jacob] had may rachell wedd, Lia he stall vn-til his bedd.

a1555 J. Bradford in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 470 Pray Walshe to steale you in, as I hope he will doe.

1633 G. Herbert Temple: Sacred Poems 43 I bath'd it often, ev'n with holy bloud, Which at a board, while many drunk base wine, A friend did steal into my cup for good.

a1641 J. Webster & T. Heywood Appius & Virginia (1654) iv. 45 Thy violent Lust shall like the biting of the invenom'd Aspick, steal thee to hell.

1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vi. xl. 78 He Knows why He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train And steals it round about his scaley Thigh.

1649 W. Davenant Love & Honour iv. i. 65 Steale on this funerall habit.

1656 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa V. iii. ii. 88 I stole the letter into Monyma's hand.

1710 H. Bedford Vindic. Church of Eng. 179 The Words..were..stol'n into the..Article.

a1712 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 292 The Merchants did undersel them, by stealing in English cloth that was prohibit.

1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 354. ⁋3 The Prentice speaks his Disrespect by an extended Finger, and the Porter by stealing out his Tongue.

1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 447 I..from beneath his Head, at dawning Day, With softest Care have stol'n my Arm away.

c1730 A. Ramsay For Sake Somebody iii I'll..steal on linens fair and clean.

a1734 R. North Autobiogr. (1887) i. 3 But there was another use made of this botle, for our Mother would steal into it slices of Rubarb, and..this way, it was stole upon us, and not tainted with aversions.

1744 S. Johnson Acct. Life R. Savage 183 Nor [did he] ever read his Verses without stealing his Eyes from the Page, to discover, in the Faces of his Audience, how they were affected.

1752 H. Walpole Let. to H. Mann 28 Oct. [Lord Coventry] coursed his wife round the table, on suspecting that she had stolen on a little red, seized her, scrubbed it off by force with a napkin, and then told her, that [etc.].

1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 63 He stole a bill for 160l. into his hand, saying..there is what I owe you.

1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 10 Whose constant vigils chase the chilling damp Oblivion steals upon her vestal lamp.

1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh (ed. 2) 165 If the sweet hours of intercourse so imprudently allowed them should have stolen into his heart the same fatal fascination as into hers.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 120 The hag..now unclosed her hand, stole it away from the weapon, and suffered it to fall by her side.

1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 199 Slily steal thy bonnet on,..And wander out with me.

1824 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 397 It may amuse you, to show when, and by what means, they stole this law in upon us.

1883 D. C. Murray Joseph's Coat xxxiv It was noticed that the silent two had stolen each a hand towards the other's and thus..they sat handed.

†b. To fire (a gun) stealthily. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > traverse stealthily [verb (transitive)] > fire a gun

steal1794

society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > types of firing

plunge1761

steal1794

snipe1832

to fire into the brown (of them)1845

pot1854

pot-shoot1867

group1911

pot-shot1913

1794 Nelson in Sotheby's Catal. (1900) 26 Feb. 118 Except one general discharge and a gun now and then stole at us, we have had no opposition.

c. Of a hen: To make (her nest) in a concealed place. Also U.S. of a ewe: To bring forth (lambs) out of season.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [verb (transitive)] > make nest (of hen)

steal1742

the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [verb (transitive)] > give birth > out of season

steal1859

1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman July xvi. 99 One of my Hen Pheasants..got Abroad, and stole her Nest.

1854 Poultry Chron. 1 436 Turkey hens generally steal their nests, but do not readily forsake them, unless scared.

1859 L. F. Allen New Amer. Farm Bk. (1883) 417 If young ewes have stolen lambs, they should be taken away from them immediately after yeaning.

1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §979. 466 When laying every hen likes extreme privacy. This is why fowls when at liberty ‘steal’ their nests as it is called.

7. technical. To omit or suppress (some out of a usual number of parts of a structure).

a. Nautical. (See quot. 1711.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > make incomplete [verb (transitive)] > omit (some usual parts from a structure)

steal1711

1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 47 It's therefore very customary in many Ships to drop, or steal, as they term it, some Strakes short of the Stern.

b. Netting. (? Implied in stolen adj.)

II. To go secretly or quietly.

†8. reflexive. To withdraw oneself secretly or quietly. Chiefly with away. Obsolete. rare.[So Old Norse stela-sk. For the development of meaning cf. French dérober to steal, se dérober to hide oneself.]

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)] > go away quietly or surreptitiously

stealc1386

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > withdraw, steal away [verb (reflexive)]

stealc1386

wile?a1400

diskenc1460

convey1535

sneak1680

c1386 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 282 For which as soone as it myghte be He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3918 Laban o leue þam nicked nai, And þai bi night þam stal a way.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxviii. 590 Alas, ye stale awaye yourself by nyghte.

1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xvi. 381 Whan the spye had wel vnderstonde all the conclucion, he stele hymself fro the company.

1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey III. xi. 165 So peaceful shalt thou end thy blissful days, And steal thy self from life, by slow decays.

a. intransitive. To depart or withdraw secretly or surreptitiously from a place. Chiefly with adverb, as away, †forth, off, out, or const. from, out of.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away quietly or stealthily

steal1154

to steal one's wayc1385

skew?a1400

astealc1400

fleetc1400

slip?c1450

shrink1530

flinch1563

shift1594

foist1603

shab1699

slope1851

smuggle1865

sneak1896

mope1914

to oil out1945

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)]

besteala725

snikec897

steal1154

creepc1175

skulk?c1225

snaker?c1225

stalkc1300

slenchc1330

lurka1375

slinkc1374

snokec1380

slide1382

slipc1400

mitchera1575

sneak1598

snake1818

sly1825

snoop1832

to steal one's way1847

sniggle1881

gumshoe1897

slime1898

pussyfoot1902

soft-foot1913

cat-foot1916

pussy1919

pussa1953

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > move off or away

steal1154

atslip?c1225

atcreepc1275

to steal one's wayc1385

glide1393

atslikec1400

fleetc1400

flinch1563

outsteala1586

leer1586

shift1594

shab1699

slive1707

ghost1833

to oil out1945

1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1140 & te æorl stæl ut & ferde efter Rodbert eorl of Gloucestre.

c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7493 Heo swiðe stille stelen ut of buruwe.

c1290 Magdalene 540 in S.E. Leg. 477 Marie..stal a-wey from hire kunne.

1487 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 171 Diversse of them stelyth dayly aweye and goyth to Myddelborow.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale awaye, I convaye my selfe prively out of syght, or out of company.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 178 How Wortigerne for Dreid of Hungest staw in the Walis.

1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc v. ii. 40 And other sort..Stale home by silence of the secret night.

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 294 The Earle of Angus was stowin quyitlie out of his ludging.

1580 J. Stow Chrons. of Eng. 533 But when they saw the King came not, they stealed away, and left the Earle of Salisburie in manner alone.

1596 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1841) I. 86 Thow was apprehendit..steilling furth of the said..Adam Mairis yard, at twa houris in the morning, greyn growand bear.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 57 The Lord Deputie..received advertisement..that Tyrone..was stolne out of Mounster with sixe hundred in his company.

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. xvi. 135 Other Captains secretly stole home.

1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour iv. iv. 53 The gods are good; I'le leave her to their care, Steal from my Post, and in the Plunder share.

1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband v. i. 47 My Lady Graveairs had an Eye upon me, as I stole off.

1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxvii. 131 Many of them had stolen from the camp, and retired homewards.

a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance (1775) III. viii. 251 She had stole out in order to acquaint me of this.

1786 F. Burney Diary 18 July (1842) III. 22 The sub-governess, stole from her charges, and came to the window.

1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason ii. 34 But made him think of some beast from his lair Stolen forth at the beginning of the night.

1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 267 Maria stole off to the honey.

1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 232 The inhabitants had stolen away and taken up a position on the top of the hills.

b. with adverbial accusative, to steal one's way (†in early use = to steal away). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away quietly or stealthily

steal1154

to steal one's wayc1385

skew?a1400

astealc1400

fleetc1400

slip?c1450

shrink1530

flinch1563

shift1594

foist1603

shab1699

slope1851

smuggle1865

sneak1896

mope1914

to oil out1945

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > move off or away

steal1154

atslip?c1225

atcreepc1275

to steal one's wayc1385

glide1393

atslikec1400

fleetc1400

flinch1563

outsteala1586

leer1586

shift1594

shab1699

slive1707

ghost1833

to oil out1945

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)]

besteala725

snikec897

steal1154

creepc1175

skulk?c1225

snaker?c1225

stalkc1300

slenchc1330

lurka1375

slinkc1374

snokec1380

slide1382

slipc1400

mitchera1575

sneak1598

snake1818

sly1825

snoop1832

to steal one's way1847

sniggle1881

gumshoe1897

slime1898

pussyfoot1902

soft-foot1913

cat-foot1916

pussy1919

pussa1953

c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 2174 He..as a traytour stal his wey.

?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 101 That Edricus seenge the Danes to be inclynede, stale his weye from the hoste.

c1500 Three Kings' Sons (1895) 152 Some stale their wey, and lefte the places allone.

1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 182 During the night, he, with his Momkes, stole his way into the midst of their camp.

1884 W. Collins I say No ix Steal your way into that poor little fool's heart.

c. Hunting. to steal away. Of a hunted animal: To leave its lair unperceived and gain a start of the pursuers.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > animals hunted > [verb (intransitive)] > gain start on pursuers

to steal awayc1369

the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (intransitive)]

to stand, be (abide obs.) at bayc1314

to steal awayc1369

stalla1425

starta1425

rusec1425

beatc1470

lodgec1470

trason1486

rouse1532

angle1575

bolt1575

to take squat1583

baya1657

watch1677

fall1697

tree1699

to go away1755

to sink the wind1776

to get up1787

to go to ground1797

lie1797

to stand up1891

fly1897

c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 381 And so, at the laste, This hert Rused and staale away Fro alle the houndes a prevy way.

a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) xxxiii To se if þe deer þat is herbowrede wolde sterte and steele away or þe lymer meved hym.

1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 116. ⁋5 That 'twas a Wonder they had not lost all their Sport, for want of the silent Gentleman's crying Stole Away.

1756 S. Foote Englishman return'd from Paris ii. 35 Hola, Sr. Toby, stole away!

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. vi. 131 I..soon heard, far behind, the ‘hey whoop! stole away! stole away!’ of my baffled pursuers.

1872 ‘Idstone’ Dog ii. 19 Just then..there was a rustle amongst the long grass, and a fine dog fox..stole away.

†d. figurative of things. Obsolete. (Distinct from 11.)

ΚΠ

a1366 Romaunt Rose 371 The tyme that..steleth from vs so priuely.

c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5248 But it [prosperity] a-way gan stele Whan þei him drough to profyte singuler.

10.

a. To go or come secretly or stealthily; to walk or creep softly so as to avoid observation.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > softly or stealthily

creepc1175

skulk?c1225

stealc1374

slipc1400

sneak1598

crawl1623

snake1848

slime1898

oil1925

c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 81 And to þe Grekes ost ful pryely He stal a noon.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12524 Iosep..sent him to þe yerd..For to gedir þam sum cale; And iesus still him efter stal.

a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 259 in Poems (1981) 140 And Orpheus atour his [sc. Cerberus'] wame in stall, And nethir mare he went.

1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre ii. vii. sig. K ij Yf he steale into the campe, by walles or ditches, dryuen by no great feare, he is worthye the same punyshment.

1577–87 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. xiii. 246 Such of Belgie as stale over hither from the maine.

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. i. sig. Ii6 [He] stale vp into Pamelaes chamber.

1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. D2^v Affection is like the Snayle, which stealeth to the top of the lance by minutes.

1596 W. Raleigh Discoverie Guiana (new ed.) 4 The same evening there stale also abord vs in a small Canoa two Indians.

a1642 J. Suckling Poems 38 in Fragmenta Aurea (1646) Her feet beneath her Petticoat, Like little mice stole in and out.

1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur ii. 64 The timorous Hare steals from the Brakes.

1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 2 Sept. (1948) I. 3 I have stole here again to finish this Lettr.

1778 F. Burney Evelina II. ii. 18 Madame Duval..stole softly down stairs, desiring me to follow her.

1799 T. Campbell Pleasures of Hope & Other Poems i. 325 On Erie's banks, where tigers steal along.

1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) iii. 33 They steal to one another's houses when they think we are asleep.

1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. iii. iii. 107 At nightfall, President Lamoignon steals over to the Controller's.

1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxvii. 117 There were..soft whisperings and foot-falls in the chamber, as one after another stole in, to look at the dead.

1859 E. FitzGerald tr. Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám xlii. 9 And lately,..Came stealing through the Dusk an Angel Shape Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder.

1877 W. Black Green Pastures & Piccadilly I. ii. 19 The Lady Sylvia..dressed, and stole noiselessly down the stairs.

b. figurative.

ΚΠ

1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. C4 Such vpstarts..wil at last steale by degrees into some credit by their double diligence.

1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 3 Yet, neverthelesse, since that time; there hath beene another Impression of the same stolne into the world.

1679 C. Ness Distinct Disc. Antichrist 213 It stole into the world..unsensibly, and at unawares.

1761 C. Churchill Night 9 Calm, independent, let me steal thro life.

1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 342 The child of which he is the father, if it steals into life.

†c. With to adv. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1250 Owl & Night. 1432 An go to him bi daies lihte þat er stal to bi þeostre nihte.

c1290 Barnabas 98 in S. Eng. Leg. 29 Ake cristine Men þat weren bi-side stelen to bi niȝte.

d. To come stealthily on or upon a person for the purpose of attack or injury.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > attack stealthily

steal13..

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > lie in wait for > steal on in order to attack

steal13..

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > with hostile intent

steal13..

creepc1380

tranont1487

13.. King Alis. (Laud) 3989 For þou hast demed þi self here þoo þou..stale byhynden on oure kyng.

c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 654 At the chesse..She staale on me and toke my fers.

1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 106 ‘Ich am wratthe’, quaþ þat wye, ‘wol gladliche smyte Boþe with ston and with staf, and stele vp-on myn enemy.’

1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 21 Þo schrewed wormes, Þat steleth on þe stedis to stynge hem to deth.

c1450 Brut ii. 379 And aftir come þer tydynges..þat þere was a new Batayle of Frenschmen ordeyned, redy to stele on hem, and comyn towarde hym.

1508 J. Stanbridge Vulgaria (W. de W.) B iij b He came stelynge vpon me, Adortus est me.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale upon one, I come prively upon hym, je viens a lemblée.

1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 156^v The Catte..stealing suddenly and swiftly vpon the Mouse.

1598 T. Rogers Celestiall Elegies sig. C4^v Death stole vppon her with his Eben darte.

a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. vii. 80 Death steals treacherously upon us, when we least look for it.

1680 Debates Ho. Commons (1681) 115 I believe it was only to quiet our Thoughts, while Popery steals on upon us.

1704 N. Rowe Ulysses ii. i. 569 The God of Sleep Insensible and soft, had stole upon me.

a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 377 Tak some on the wing, and some as they spring, But cannily steal on a bonie moor-hen.

1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. iv. 50 With the stealthy step..of the cat that steals on her prey.

11. Of things.

a. Of time (with on, away): to come or go unobserved.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > [verb (intransitive)] > imperceptibly or unobserved

glidea1325

slip1564

steal1592

escape1836

1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. G4 Then time steales on: and steales, and steales.

1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 19 But in the meane space time steales away.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 52 The houre steales on, I pray you sir dispatch.

1773 H. More Search after Happiness ii. 143 No plan e'er mark'd the duties of the day, Which stole in tasteless apathy away.

1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay xi. 169 Years stole on, and he didn't care to move about much.

b. Of a condition, esp. sleep, insensibility, infirmities, etc.: To come insensibly over or on a person.

ΚΠ

14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 279 Ȝif any sterynge on me stele.

1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 27 That be the proces of tyme vnthankful forȝetfulnes steil not vpon us.

1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 9 So on us stole our blessed change; while we Th'effect did feel but scarce the manner see.

1807 Salmagundi 24 Nov. 368 Infirmities had stolen upon him.

1812 G. Crabbe Tales xix. 348 He began to feel Some self-approval on his bosom steal.

1827 T. De Quincey Last Days Kant in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 140/2 The infirmities of age now began to steal upon Kant.

1834 Life Adam Clarke iv. 101 Mr. Clarke..began to feel a sense of drowsiness steal over him.

1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. ii. 77 A kind of pleasant stupor was stealing over me.

c. Of a stream, tears, a body of vapour, a ship, etc.: To glide, or move gently and almost imperceptibly. Also with adverb, along, on, out.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > smoothly

slidea950

scritheOE

glidea1275

silec1400

swima1556

steal1626

slip1680

snoove1719

skate1775

sleek1818

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §919 The Vapour of Char-Coale..is the more dangerous, because it commeth without any Ill Smell; But stealeth on by little and little.

1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 93 Anon she drops a tear That stole along her cheeks.

1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 23 Now Sighs steal out, and Tears begin to flow.

1737 S. Berington Mem. G. di Lucca 67 With Tears stealing down his Cheeks.

1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 105 Auld, hermit Aire staw thro' his woods, On to the shore.

1849 A. Helps Friends in Council II. i. ii. 26 Look at that ungainly puppy trying to catch the thistledown as it steals up the hill.

1874 M. A. Barker Station Life N.Z. xvii. 135 The faint wreath of smoke stealing up through the calm air.

1896 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Flotsam i. 1 The Hooghly was stealing past the quiet bungalow built on the bank.

1898 R. Bridges Hymn Nat. in Poet. Wks. (1912) 404 The white ships swim, And steal to havens far.

d. Of sound, fragrance, light: To become gradually perceptible. Const. on, upon, (the sense).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > by insensible degrees

steal1637

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive, be aware of [verb (intransitive)] > become perceptible

steal1637

1637 J. Milton Comus 19 At last a soft, and solemne breathing sound Rose like a steame of rich distill'd Perfumes And stole upon the aire, that even Silence Was tooke e're she was ware.

1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Prometheus Chain'd in tr. Æschylus Tragedies 12 Ah me! what sound, what softly-breathing odour Steals on my sense?

1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 201 When on my ear this plaintive strain, Slow-solemn, stole.

c1790 W. L. Bowles Sonn. ‘As one who long’, With such delight, o'er all my heart I feel, Sweet Hope! thy fragrance pure and healing incense steal.

1822 C. Lamb in London Mag. Feb. 177/1 You could see the first dawn of an idea stealing slowly over his countenance.

†e. To insinuate itself, find acceptance in disguise. Also, to gain influence by imperceptible degrees. Const. on. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > operation upon something > exert operative influence [verb (intransitive)] > by insensible degrees

steala1586

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > be stealthy [verb (intransitive)] > intrude stealthily

creepc1380

steala1586

screw1614

worm1627

sap1733

weasel1963

a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. D4^v Whose pretty Allegories, stealing vnder the formall tales of Beastes, make many..begin to heare the sound of vertue.

1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xvii. ccli. 333 The Art Of charming Sanctitie can steal upon The coldest Bosome.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Wales 23 With a smooth stream..his matter by a lawful and laudable felony, did steal secretly into the hearts of his hearers.

1805 E. Clark Banks of Douro I. 259 The society of Montague;..insensibly stole on her esteem.

†f. To operate by insensible degrees upon. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1639 G. Plattes Discov. Subterraneall Treasure 19 When you use them [sc. the new pots] set them in the fire at the first kindling: and so let the Fire steale upon them till they be red hot.

†g. to steal off: to diverge in an inconspicuous way.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

1793 Earl of Dundonald Descr. Estate Culross 30 From the..main lay of the Coal..a leader of Coal steals off as it were.

†h. To develop by insensible degrees from; to pass or change insensibly into, to something else.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > gradual change > change gradually [verb (intransitive)] > from or into

slidea1398

growc1460

wear1555

accrue1586

ripen1611

shuffle1635

melt1651

steal1660

spawn1677

verge1757

to glide into1800

shade1819

evolve?1831

shadow1839

grade1892

1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 9 As wise Artists mix their colours so That by degrees they from each other go, Black steals unheeded from the neighb'ring white.

1744 W. Collins Epist. T. Hanmer 10 Chast and subdu'd the modest Lights decay, Steal into Shade, and mildly melt away.

1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 34 Buds to blossoms softly steal.

1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. iii. 60 A bright sun-shiny afternoon was stealing into twilight.

i. Of an event, a proposal: To come upon a person without attracting attention.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > emerge or present itself

to come in (also to, on, etc.) placec1225

astart1393

becomea1400

emerge1570

bubble1578

to flower off1644

steal1798

to gust up1813

to crop up1844

outcrop1856

1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 336 Day had unobserved stolen upon them.

1819 J. Marshall Writings upon Federal Constit. (1839) 161 The bill..did not steal upon an unsuspecting legislature.

Compounds

The verb-stem in combination:

steal-clothes n.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > others

sitisota1400

papsea1450

half-bowl1477

pluck at the crow1523

white and black1555

running game1581

blow-pointa1586

hot cocklesa1586

one penny1585

cockelty bread1595

pouch1600

venter-point1600

hinch-pinch1603

hardhead1606

poor and rich1621

rowland-hoe1622

hubbub1634

handicap?a1653

owl1653

ostomachy1656

prelledsa1660

quarter-spellsa1660

yert-point1659

bob-her1702

score1710

parson has lost his cloak1712

drop (also throw) (the) handkerchief1754

French Fox1759

goal1765

warpling o' the green1768

start1788

kiss-in-the-ring1801

steal-clothes1809

steal-coat1816

petits paquets1821

bocce1828

graces1831

Jack-in-the-box1836

hot hand1849

sparrow-mumbling1852

Aunt Sally1858

gossip1880

Tambaroora1882

spoof1884

fishpond1892

nim1901

diabolo1906

Kim's game1908

beaver1910

treasure-hunt1913

roll-down1915

rock scissors paper1927

scissors cut paper1927

scissors game1927

the dozens1928

toad in the hole1930

game1932

scissors paper stone1932

Roshambo1936

Marco Polo1938

scavenger hunt1940

skish1940

rock paper scissors1947

to play chicken1949

sounding1962

joning1970

arcade game1978

1809 Edinb. Rev. 14 143 ‘Wadds.’ This youthful amusement..is called, on the Borders, by the very appropriate name of Scotch and English. In the south of England, it has the blunter appellation of steal-clothes.

1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Stealy-clothes, or Watch-webs, a game.]

steal-coat n. (see quots.).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > others

sitisota1400

papsea1450

half-bowl1477

pluck at the crow1523

white and black1555

running game1581

blow-pointa1586

hot cocklesa1586

one penny1585

cockelty bread1595

pouch1600

venter-point1600

hinch-pinch1603

hardhead1606

poor and rich1621

rowland-hoe1622

hubbub1634

handicap?a1653

owl1653

ostomachy1656

prelledsa1660

quarter-spellsa1660

yert-point1659

bob-her1702

score1710

parson has lost his cloak1712

drop (also throw) (the) handkerchief1754

French Fox1759

goal1765

warpling o' the green1768

start1788

kiss-in-the-ring1801

steal-clothes1809

steal-coat1816

petits paquets1821

bocce1828

graces1831

Jack-in-the-box1836

hot hand1849

sparrow-mumbling1852

Aunt Sally1858

gossip1880

Tambaroora1882

spoof1884

fishpond1892

nim1901

diabolo1906

Kim's game1908

beaver1910

treasure-hunt1913

roll-down1915

rock scissors paper1927

scissors cut paper1927

scissors game1927

the dozens1928

toad in the hole1930

game1932

scissors paper stone1932

Roshambo1936

Marco Polo1938

scavenger hunt1940

skish1940

rock paper scissors1947

to play chicken1949

sounding1962

joning1970

arcade game1978

1816 Gentleman's Mag. July 36/1 In Lancashire we have a game, for which I can procure no other name than Steal Coat.

† steal-counter n. Obsolete ? a gamester who cheats by stealing counters (in quot. 1601 figurative).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > [noun] > player of games of chance > cheat or swindler

butter1474

rooka1568

steal-counter1588

nicker1669

sharper1681

tat-monger1688

gambler1735

blackleg1767

gouger1790

sharp1797

tatsman1825

leggism1843

spieler1859

sniggler1887

1588 Hay any Work 6 That olde stealecounter masse priest, John O Glossester.

1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Summarie Answere to Darel 79 You are now (like a steale-counter) thus couertly creeping vnto their supposed dispossessions by prayer and fasting.

† steal-placard n. Obsolete one who has stolen a ‘placard’ or begging licence.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > poverty > mendicancy > [noun] > beggar > who has stolen begging licence

steal-placard1596

feaguer1610

1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. N^v Pigmey Dicke..is such another Venerian steale Placard as Iohn was.

† steal-truth n. Obsolete a heresy.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > heresy > [noun]

dwildOE

misbeliefa1225

heresy?c1225

sect13..

misbelieving1340

irreligion1592

miscredence1603

steal-truth1628

Zendicism1697

pseudo-religion1856

Manichaeism1894

1628 H. Lynde Via Tuta 48 By which publique notice, the steale-truth was discouered.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	steal
释义	stealn.¹ Brit. /stiːl/, U.S. /stil/ Forms: Old English stela, steola, stæla, Middle English–1600s, 1800s stele, Middle English–1500s stile, Middle English, 1600s steele, 1500s style, steyle, 1500s–1600s steile, 1500s–1800s steale, 1600s, 1800s steel, 1800s steil, steyl, 1700s–1800s stell, steal. Etymology: Old English stela weak masculine, < Germanic stel- (compare Greek στελεός* , στελεόν handle), ablaut-variant of stal- whence stale n.² (The Old High German stil, modern German stiel, handle, is probably unconnected). For the difficulty of distinguishing the forms of the synonymous steal* and stale , see stale n.² Obsolete exc. dialect. 1. a. The stalk or stem of a plant, leaf, flower or fruit. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > stem or stalk > [noun] stealc700 stemc888 spirea1000 stalka1366 caulc1420 codd?1440 stalec1440 thighc1440 shank1513 pipe?1523 start?1523 spindle1577 leg1597 scape1601 haulm1623 caulicle1657 culm1657 thyrse1658 scapus1704 stemlet1838 stam1839 caulis1861 caulome1875 tige1900 c700 Epinal Gloss. 215 Caulem, stela. c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 154 Mædere..bið gefrætewud mid feower readum stælum [v.r. stelum, L. cauliculis]. 13.. Liber regum Angliæ (Auch.) in W. Scott Minstrelsy Sc. Border (1810) II. 261 Dansimond ȝede and gadred frut, For sothe were plommes white, The steles he puld out everichon, Puisoun he dede therin anon, And sett the steles al ogen, That the gile schuld nought be sen. 13.. Propr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.) in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen 81 83 Þis whete-corn..þat furst stod on a luytel stele. c1440 Pallad. on Husb. xii. 77 But forto hede hem gret, trede doun the stele [L. Sicapitatum facere volueris, ubi cœperit caulis prodire, proculca]. 1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 23^v The floures..stand..vpon theyr stiles or foot stalkes. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 28 Rye... [T]he stalke or steale thereof, is smaller then the Wheate stalke. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xiii. vi. 389 The steles of the leaves grow contrarie one against the other. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Queue,..the staulke, or steale, of fruits. 1639 tr. J. A. Comenius Porta Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) xi. §119 A cherry hangeth by somewhat a long stalk, a bullace on somewhat a short stele. 1818 R. Wilbraham Attempt Gloss. Cheshire Stele, or Steal, the stalk of a flower. 1865 W. S. Banks List Provinc. Words Wakefield A ‘musheram steil’. †b. ? The trunk of a tree. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > stem, trunk, or bole stovenc1000 bolec1314 bodyc1330 stock1340 shaft1398 stealc1440 truncheonc1449 trunk1490 stud1579 leg1597 butt1601 truncus1706 stam1839 c1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 770 Ther is also graffyng in trees seer, As..asshes, quynce; & punyk, cleef his stile [L. et punico, sed fisso ligno]. †2. ? A supporting post or pillar. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > a vertical support, post, or stake stakec893 studeOE studdleeOE stealc1000 stockc1000 postOE stander1325 pillar1360 stilpc1380 bantelc1400 puncheon1423 stanchion1433 standard1439 side tree1451 stancher1488 stanchel1586 stipit1592 shore1601 trunch1622 arrectary1628 staddle1633 standing1800 mill-post1890 c1000 Ælfric De Veteri et de Novo Test. (Gr.) 20 Se cinestol stynt on þisum þrim stelum: laboratores, bellatores, oratores. 1547–8 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 275 For breakynge downe of the steles of the ymages in the churche, xxij d. †3. An upright side of a ladder; in later use, a rung or step of a ladder: = stale n.² 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > ladder > [noun] > upright side of ladder stalea1250 steal1395 stalkc1405 shaft1888 1395 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. xvii A man that woll clymbe vpon a ladder hye & setteth his fote vpon the lowest stele. c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 513 Wymmen vnwytte þat wale ne couþe Þat on hande fro þat oþer, for alle þis hyȝe worlde, Bitwene þe stele & þe stayre disserne noȝt cunen. c1400 Rule St. Benet (Prose) vii. 11 Þe stiȝe hauis tua tres... Þe stelis bytuixe bitakins oure gude dedis. c1440 York Myst. xxxiv. 91 Sties..With stalworthe steeles.., Bothe some schorte and some lang. 1621 J. Mayer Eng. Catechisme 364 Euery steale of the ladder, [is] a part of the ladder. 4. a. The handle of a tool or utensil (e.g. a hammer, axe, pot, spoon). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle handleeOE helvec897 haftc1000 steal1377 start1380 handa1400 helmc1430 handlinga1450 pull1551 grasp1561 hilt1574 cronge1577 hold1578 tab1607 manubrium1609 tree1611 handfast1638 stock1695 handing1703 gripe1748 stem1796 handhold1797 grip1867 society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle > long straight stalea1200 steal1377 stealc1395 shaft1530 staff- society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle > of specific tool crankc1000 steal1377 pipe1397 pot-hook1397 shaft1530 fork-shafta1642 bell-handle1768 hasp1770 fettle1812 panhandle1890 1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xix. 274 Lerned men a ladel bugge with a longe stele. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2230 Þe gome..Sette þe stele to the stone & stalked bysyde. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 597 And caughte the cultour by the colde stele. c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 473/2 Stele, or stert of a vesselle, ansa. 1498 in F. W. Weaver Somerset Medieval Wills (1901) 365 A posnet with a stele and broken feete. c1520 in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) II. 297 Item oone Sponne with a flat Steyle. a1580 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 117 For mendinge the mason's towles in ther worke and for style to them, 4s. 3d. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. xii. sig. Y5 An huge Polaxe..Whose steale was yron studded, but not long. View more context for this quotation 1625 in R. Sanderson Rymer's Fœdera (1726) XVIII. 239/2 Item a Lookeing Glass sett in Goulde,..the Steele of Aggott. 1631 W. Gouge Gods Three Arrowes i. §25. 35 The Censer was..made..of gold..with a steele or handle to hold it by. 1789 C. Vallancey Vocab. Lang. Forth & Bargie in Trans. Royal Irish Acad. 1788 2 Antiquities 33 Stell, the handle of a thing. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry IV. Gloss. s.v. Steils of a barrow or plough, the handles. 1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) The tiller or handle of a rudder was formerly called a steel or ‘start’. proverbial phrase.1402 T. Hoccleve Let. of Cupid 50 And whann this man the pot hath be the stele, and fully is in his possessyon.c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5247 Thei hadden bi þe stele Prosperite. b. esp. A long straight handle, e.g. of a rake or broom. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > parts of tools generally > [noun] > handle > long straight stalea1200 steal1377 stealc1395 shaft1530 staff- c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 949 That tale is nat worth a rake stele [v.r. rakes stele]. c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) iv. 2009 Youre resons, lady, avayle not a rake-stele. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xiiii^v If the rake be made of grene wode the heed wyll nat abyde vpon y^e stele. 1597 Bp. J. Hall Virgidemiarum: 1st 3 Bks. iii. vii. 66 Like a broad shak-forke with a slender steale. 1765 London Chron. 6 July 18 He then went into the pond with a rake-steale in his hand. 1796 R. Walker Plebian Pol. (1801) 5 Hee took th' mop stele, an b'eet it eawt again. 1839 G. C. Lewis Gloss. Words Herefordshire 101 Stele, the wooden handle of a rake or pitchfork. 1879 R. Jefferies Wild Life 70 The peculiar broad-headed nail which fastens the mop to the stout ashen ‘steale’ or handle. †c. The shank of a candlestick; the long neck of a matrass or retort. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > chemistry > equipment or apparatus > [noun] > general vessels > retorts or stills > parts of cane1430 nose1559 steal1585 helm1594 helmet1599 tin-worm1800 tubulure1800 tubulature1830 tubulusc1900 the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > candle > support or holder for a candle > [noun] > candlestick > stem of shank1577 steal1585 start1697 1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 245/2 Candelabri scapus,..the shanke of stele of the candlesticke. 1594 H. Plat Diuers Chimicall Concl. Distillation 44 in Jewell House A bolt glasse, hauing a long steale. d. The stem of a tobacco-pipe. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > articles or materials used in smoking > [noun] > pipe > stem of pipe steal1672 stopple1681 pipe shank1688 shank1688 pipe-stapplea1732 pipestema1734 pipe-stick1833 shaft1841 1672 J. Josselyn New-Englands Rarities 72 The Roots are..of the bigness of the steel of a Tobacco Pipe. 1866 R. Hallam Wadsley Jack xi. 56 I..shuv'd a poipe steil i't foire. †5. The shaft or stem of an arrow or spear; = stale n.² 4. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > spear or lance > [noun] > shaft of spear spear-shafta900 ashOE shaftc1000 truncheon13.. tree?a1366 timberc1400 sting?a1500 spear-staff1530 steal1530 rodc1540 stale1553 stave1873 staff- society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > shaft of arrow shaftc1000 tree?a1366 arrow shaft1373 steal1530 stale1553 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 275/2 Steale of a shaft, fust. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 548/2 I fether a shafte, I put fethers upon a steale, jempenne. 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 12 A shaft hath three principall partes, the stele, the fethers, and the head. 1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xxiii. iii. 223 An arrow made of a cane, betwixt the head and the steile. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Fust,..the steale of a dart, or iauelin. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online March 2022). stealn.² Brit. /stiːl/, U.S. /stil/ Etymology: < steal v.¹ 1. a. The act, or an act, of stealing; a theft; the thing stolen or purloined. Chiefly U.S. colloquial. [In the first quot. c1200 the word is probably of different formation; if not an error for or variant of stale n.¹, it may represent an Old English stǽl < Old Germanic stǣl- ablaut-variant of stel- steal v.¹] ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > [noun] theft688 stalec950 stealc1200 stoutha1300 stealing13.. stealtha1325 lifting1362 briberya1387 stoutheriec1440 larcenya1475 larcerya1500 conveyancea1529 thieving1530 bribing1533 larcinc1535 embezzling1540 embezzlement1548 thiefdom?1549 theftdom1566 bribering1567 milling1567 thievery1568 larcinry1634 panyarring1703 abduction1766 smugging1825 pickup1846 lurking1851 make1860 tea-leafing1899 snitching1933 lapping1950 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > [noun] > an instance or act of stealth1402 purloinment1621 touch1821 steal1825 lift1852 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > stolen goods > [noun] > article of stealth1426 rifle1657 steal1825 filching1834 cribbing1837 thieving1861 cribbage1862 rabbit1927 c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom.* 79 Gif þe unfele man..teð him to unwrenches, to stele, oðer refloc, oðer swikedom [etc.]. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Steal, 1. A theft, Aberd. 2. The thing stolen. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. 1890 Sat. Rev. 26 July 110/1 This is an audacious steal from ‘In a Gondola’! 1891 R. Kipling Light that Failed iii. 49 ‘Yes, it is rather a cold-blooded steal,’ said Torpenhow critically. b. North American. A piece of dishonesty or fraud on a large scale; a corrupt or fraudulent transaction in politics. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > [noun] > instance or piece of lurch1533 fool-finder1685 chouse1708 swindle1778 swindling1814 do1821 shave1834 steal1872 fiddle1874 diddle1885 ramp1888 tweedle1890 take-down1892 window dressing1892 gyp1898 bobol1907 flanker1923 hype1926 have-on1931 chizz1953 scam1963 rip-off1968 rip1971 society > authority > rule or government > politics > discreditable political activity > [noun] > instance of steal1872 1872 Daily Arkansas Gaz. (Little Rock, Arkansas) 1 Apr. Of all the swindles and steals that have ever been proposed or carried out in our State, this is the largest and boldest. 1884 Reading (Pa.) Morning Herald 15 Apr. When the makers of the constitution of the United States put in that apparently harmless clause giving Congress the power to legislate for the ‘general welfare’, they little thought what jobs and steals it would ultimately be made the excuse for. 1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. II. lxiv. 471 Rings are the cause of both peculation and jobbery, although St. Louis has had no ‘big steal’. 1891 Weekly Empire (Toronto) 3 Sept. 4/2 The late gigantic steal. c. colloquial (originally U.S.). A bargain. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > buying > [noun] > a purchase > a bargain good cheapc1375 great cheapc1375 Robin Hood bargain1709 rug1746 bargain1766 best buy1879 snip1926 steal1942 bargoon1964 sacrifice1976 1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §546/2 Advantageous purchase; a bargain,..steal. 1951 N.Y. Herald-Tribune 14 Dec. 6 The asking price is $45,000, but I'm pretty sure you could get it for 43,000, and at that price it's a steal. 1960 News Chron. 2 May 3/1 At £30,000 it was a steal. I think it's worth £75,000. 1969 C. Drummond Odds on Death vi. 142 A car like this..is a steal at three thousand quid. 1979 Fortune 15 Jan. 67 A sentimental gesture, but it was a steal—a quarter of a million acres for less than $10 an acre! †2. An act of going furtively. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [noun] stalkingc1000 creeping1565 hedge-creeping1579 stealing1581 steal1590 stealth1600 insinuation1608 slinking1611 sneakinga1657 prowl1803 creep1818 sneak1819 lurk1829 slink1853 pussyfooting1956 1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 29 The vickar..forbad it openly: yet it was not so deepely inveighed against, but that diuerse Sundayes they would make a steale thither to breakefast. 3. a. Golf (see quot. 1897.) ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > holing the ball > unexpectedly steal1842 1842 G. F. Carnegie Golfiana in Golfiana Misc. (1887) 81 A most disgusting steal. 1867 Poems on Golf 53 Though such long steals are now but rarely done. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 473/2 (Golf) Steal, a long putt holed unexpectedly. b. Baseball. A stolen run from one base to another. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > [noun] > base-playing or running > types of run home run1856 tally1856 steal1867 homer1868 round trip1895 double steal1897 round-tripper1908 stroll1908 grand slam1920 dinger1968 1867 Chicago Times 26 July 5/2 Norton made first base, but, on essaying Berthrong's steal, he was similarly ousted. 1891 N. Crane Baseball iv. 36 The runner..must, therefore, look out for an exceptional chance to make the steal. 1908 Spalding's Base Ball Guide 69 Chance forced Tinker and then working the steal stunt for a run down was put out. 1949 Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) 10 Aug. iii. 4/1 Davis overthrew second in an attempt to nail Hale on a steal. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 12 June 14/3 Don't worry. I give the steal sign, and if you're thrown out, I'll take the blame. 1976 Washington Post 19 Apr. d4/4 Washington's glamour boy also struck out when he labeled the Yanks' Roy White ‘an excellent steal man, 15 for 16 last year’ only to correct himself a minute later by giving White 16 steals in 31 attempts last season. c. Basketball. An act of obtaining possession of the ball from an opponent. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > basketball > [noun] > actions travelling1916 pivot1920 rebounding1926 dunking1935 goaltending1939 boxout1950 rebound1954 screen-and-roll1955 pick-and-roll1960 suicide1965 hang time1969 steal1974 1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 15 Feb. 3- b/4 Then, on a steal, Iona tied it up 62–62. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online March 2022). stealv.¹ Brit. /stiːl/, U.S. /stil/ Forms: Old English ( ge)stelan, Middle English stelin, steolin, Middle English stelen, Middle English–1600s stele, Middle English stel(le, steln, Middle English steele, Middle English–1500s Scottish steile, steyle, Middle English stelyn, steyl(l, Middle English–1500s Scottish steill, 1500s staile, steel, stell, 1500s–1600s steale, Scottish steil, 1500s– steal. past tense Old English–Middle English stæl, (plural stǽlon), Middle English plural stalen, Middle English stel, Middle English–1500s stal, Middle English plural stelyn, stolen, Middle English staal(e, Middle English–1500s stall, Middle English–1600s stale, Middle English–1700s Scottish staw, Middle English staall(e, stele, Scottish sta, stawe, 1500s stalle, Scottish staill, Middle English– stole. Also (weak forms) 1600s, 1800s dialect stealed, 1500s stolled, 1800s dialect stoalt. past participle Old English ( ge)stolen, Middle English istolen, Middle English i-stole, Middle English stollyn, stoolen, ystole, Scottish stowine, Middle English stoll(e, stolyn, Middle English–1600s stollen, stolne, Middle English–1700s stole, stoln, Middle English ystolne, Scottish stone, stowyn, Middle English–1600s stollin, stollyne, stollyng, Scottish stoune, stowin, stowne, 1500s northern stowen, 1700s Scottish sta'en, 1700s–1800s Scottish and dialect stown, Middle English– stolen. Also (weak forms) 1500s stolled, stollyd, 1500s, 1800s dialect stealed. Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: A Common Germanic strong verb: Old English stelan, past tense stæl, plural stǽlon, past participle stolen, corresponds to Old Frisian stela, Old Saxon stelan, Dutch stelen, Old High German stelan (Middle High German steln, modern German stehlen), Old Norse stela (Swedish stjäla, Danish stjæle), Gothic stilan, < Germanic stel- (:stal-: stǣl-: stul-). Outside Germanic no certain cognates are known. In the 14th cent. the regular form stal* of the past tense began to be superseded by stole (after the past participle), which has been the accepted form since the 17th cent. The Bible of 1611 has in two places stale (but modern reprints stole), and in four places stole. The weak forms stealed, and the mixed forms stolled, stoald, appear in the 16th cent. and in modern dialects, but have never been general. I. To take dishonestly or secretly. 1. a. transitive. To take away dishonestly (portable property, cattle, etc., belonging to another); esp. to do this secretly or unobserved by the owner or the person in charge. Const. from (earlier dative).The notion of secrecy (cf. stealth n.) seems to be part of the original meaning of the verb, which, however, is also employed in a generic sense applicable to open as well as secret acts of theft. In modern use it takes the place of reave v.¹ 3, rob v. 5, and of combinations like ‘to steal and reave’. ΚΠ c1000 Ælfric Genesis xliv. 8 Wenst þu, þæt we þines hlafordes gold oððe his seolfor stælon? a1250 Prov. Ælfred B. 665 He wole stelin þin haite & keren, & listeliche onsuerren. c1290 Beket 816 in S. Eng. Leg. 130 ‘Bel ami, þou hast’, quad þe king: ‘i-stole me muchel guod’. 1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1725) 77 Þe Normans did it alle in þe guyse of theft, Þe godes þerof stal. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 65 Oon of þis secounde Richard his knyȝtes staal a spone, and leyde it to wedde among oþer þinges. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4936 Quils i sald þam o mi sede þai stall mi cupe a-wai to lede. 1400 in Roy. & Hist. Lett. Hen. IV (Rolls) 38 Thu knowlechest..that thy men hath stolle our horsen out of our parke. c1450 Mirk's Festial 14 When þys Jew was comen home and fonde hys good ystolne, he was wod wroth wyt Saynt Nycholas. c1480 (a1400) Seven Sleepers 311 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 435 Be lawty þu telis ws now..quhare þat þu has stowine þis tresoure ore reft. a1500 Beket's Prophecies in Bernardus de Cura Rei Fam. 23 Now has a boy stone Þe brydylle of his blonke hede, agayne he buske shulde. a1500 Ratis Raving iii. 302 He is a theif rycht as he stald. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. xi. sig. Eii^v As did the pure penitent that stale a goose, And stak downe a fether. 1595 W. Warner tr. Plautus Menaecmi v. sig. D2^v Euen now thou deniedst that thou stolest it [sc. the cloak] from me, and now thou bringest it home openly in my sight. 1677 in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 37 Some mischievous persons to dishonour my Lord Chancellour crept through a window of his house..and stole the Mace and the two purses. 1738 J. Wesley Wks. (1872) I. 121 Both my books were stole. 1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 387 And my fause luver staw the rose, But..left the thorn wi' me. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 512 He who steals a little steals with the same wish as he who steals much. 1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn II. xlviii. 148 Yes; I stole money from Philemon, my beloved master. 1909 J. G. Frazer Psyche's Task iii. 23 Whoever steals sticks from the fence will have a swollen head. †b. with of used partitively. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4904 He þat has yow don socur Stoln haue yee of his tresur. c1400 Rule St. Benet 569 Of oþer mens we sal not steyl Ne couet here no wordly wele. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 112/2 Judas..bare the purse..and stale of that whiche was gyuen to cryst. c. with away, †out, †over. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > taking surreptitiously > take surreptitiously [verb (transitive)] forsteala940 stealc950 undernimc1175 to run away with?c1430 embezzle1469 steal?1473 surrept1548 cloyne1549 abstract1555 secrete1749 smuggle1768 to run off1821 snakea1861 sneak1883 snitch1904 palm1941 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)] > steal movable property steal?1473 ?1473 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Recuyell Hist. Troye (1894) II. lf. 219^v How Cacus stale away the Oxen & kyen longyng to hercules. c1480 (a1400) St. Ninian 448 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 317 Þefis..in þe circle þane but dout ȝed, for to steile þe catel owte. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale awaye a thing by thefte, je emble. 1565 J. Jewel Replie Hardinges Answeare xiv. 498 The people of Israel, by his Commaundement, stale away the Egyptians goodes, without breache of the Lawe. 1577 J. Dee Gen. Mem. Arte Nauig. 23 (margin) Though of Late in the..Low Country Trublesome disorders, Some Few (by Stealing ouer of vittayles, and other things, from this Common Wealth) haue made them selues priuatly rich. c1610–15 Life Holie Dympna in C. Horstmann Lives Women Saints (1886) 48 They stale away the coffins and reliques. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 78. ⁋5 A Pickpocket, who during his kissing her stole away all his Money. 1883 E. B. Tylor in Encycl. Brit. XV. 199/2 The sorcerer has other means of attacking his victim:..he can steal away his kidney fat. d. In wider sense: To take or appropriate dishonestly (anything belonging to another, whether material or immaterial). ΚΠ c1275 Sinners Beware! 153 in Old Eng. Misc. 77 In helle he may adrynke If he steleþ cristes theoþinge. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 26 Þo byeþ ypocrites..steleþ þe dingnetes and þe baylyes. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3988 I stal him fra his benisun. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3516 How yonger o þir tua þe blissing stal his broþer fra. 1477 T. Norton Ordinall of Alchimy ii, in E. Ashmole Theatrum Chem. Britannicum (1652) 34 For when I had my warke well wrought, Such stale it away and left me nought. 1643 R. Baker Chron. Kings of Eng. ii. 67 Affirming, that deceitfully..he had stolne many Cities and places of importance belonging to the Crown of England. a1704 T. Brown Dialogues of Dead in 4th Vol. Wks. (1720) 173 By which [treaty] he was oblig'd to vomit up numberless Provinces and Towns, which he had dishonourably stollen from their true Proprietors. 1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. i. 13 You not only steal my ideas,..but [etc.]..No man like you for stealing other men's inventions. e. esp. To plagiarize; to pass off (another's work) as one's own; to ‘borrow’ improperly (words, expressions). Also absol. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > plagiarism > plagiarize [verb (transitive)] usurpc1412 steal1544 plagiarize1660 book-pad1685 pirate1706 cabbage1773 crib1778 lift1885 plunder1896 society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [verb (transitive)] > plagiarize steal1544 1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre Ep. Ded. sig. A vj^v All translatours ought to vse the vsuall termes of our englyshe tounge..and not to breke..in to the boundes of the latyn tounge, to steale termes of it. 1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 21 His Motto is stolne out of Tully, Non solum pro nobis. 1620 J. Taylor Praise of Hemp-seed 36 I haue not stolne a sillable, or letter From any man, to make my booke seeme better. 1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. iii. 106 When he might have stollen the writings of Thucydides.., he chose rather to publish them with honour. 1716 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 331 He steals unmercifully, and amongst the Rest from Naunton's. 1841 W. Spalding Italy & Ital. Islands I. 201 It was stolen as genius steals from genius, it was stolen as Phidias stole from Homer. f. To derive obscurely and dishonourably.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ 1693 G. Stepney tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires viii. 150 Who know not from what Corner of the Earth The obscure Wretch, who got you, stole his Birth. g. With a person as quasi-obj., in to steal (someone) blind, to rob or cheat (someone) totally or mercilessly. colloquial (originally North American). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > perpetrate (a swindle) [verb (transitive)] > defraud or swindle defraud1362 deceivec1380 plucka1500 lurch1530 defeata1538 souse1545 lick1548 wipe1549 fraud1563 use1564 cozen1573 nick1576 verse1591 rooka1595 trim1600 skelder1602 firk1604 dry-shave1620 fiddle1630 nose1637 foista1640 doa1642 sharka1650 chouse1654 burn1655 bilk1672 under-enter1692 sharp1699 stick1699 finger1709 roguea1714 fling1749 swindle1773 jink1777 queer1778 to do over1781 jump1789 mace1790 chisel1808 slang1812 bucket1819 to clean out1819 give it1819 to put in the hole1819 ramp1819 sting1819 victimize1839 financier1840 gum1840 snakea1861 to take down1865 verneuk1871 bunco1875 rush1875 gyp1879 salt1882 daddle1883 work1884 to have (one) on toast1886 slip1890 to do (a person) in the eye1891 sugar1892 flay1893 to give (someone) the rinky-dink1895 con1896 pad1897 screw1900 short-change1903 to do in1906 window dress1913 ream1914 twist1914 clean1915 rim1918 tweedle1925 hype1926 clip1927 take1927 gazump1928 yentz1930 promote1931 to take (someone) to the cleaners1932 to carve up1933 chizz1948 stiff1950 scam1963 to rip off1969 to stitch up1970 skunk1971 to steal (someone) blind1974 diddle- 1974 Times 28 Feb. 9/5 Mr. Howard Hughes, the eccentric multimillionaire..replied: ‘Because he's a no-good, dishonest son of a bitch, and he stole me blind.’ 1975 Citizen (Ottawa) 29 Oct. 21/2 Trustee Dalton McGuinty..said there was no other way to keep students from ‘stealing us blind’. 1977 I. Shaw Beggarman, Thief i. ii. 21 We'd've been stolen blind without him. 1978 D. Bagley Flyaway xxi. 182 These people are Fulani... We're not staying here—they'd steal us blind. 2. absol. and intransitive. To commit or practise theft. †Const. dative of person. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (intransitive)] stealc725 thievec920 bribec1405 pluck?a1425 prowl1546 strike1567 to make away with1691 fake1819 snam1824 snig1862 to help oneself1868 boost1912 score1914 snoop1924 c725 Corpus Gloss. C 859 Conpilat, stilith. c950 Lindisf. Gosp. John x. 10 Ðeaf ne cymes buta þæte gestele & eteð & losað. a1000 Laws of Æthelb. ix Gif frigman freum stelþ. c1175 Lamb. Hom. 31 Seodðan bisechen milce et þan ilke monne þe he haueð er istolen oðer oðer-weis wa idon. a1200 Vices & Virtues 67 Ne sleih, ne ne stell, ne reaue. 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 134 For every thief upon richesse Awaiteth forto robbe and stele. c1480 (a1400) St. Matthias 246 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 229 Þo he wes thefe & ay wald steyle. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 286/3 Ther was a theef that ofte stale. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 45 The Souldiours stale, extorted, and spoyled vpon both parties. a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 238 We steale by lyne and leuell. View more context for this quotation c1660 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. iv. 100 About 80 torres..doe continually robe and stele. 1684 Bp. G. Burnet tr. T. More Utopia 16 By which every Man might..so be preserved from the fatal necessity of stealing. 1815 M. Elphinstone Acct. Kingdom Caubul iii. i. 364 They plunder weak travellers, and steal from those who are too strong to be plundered. 1871 R. W. Dale Ten Commandm. viii. 208 To give short weight or measure, is to steal. 3. a. transitive. To take away by stratagem or by eluding observation (something that is in the possession or keeping of another). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > taking surreptitiously > take surreptitiously [verb (transitive)] forsteala940 stealc950 undernimc1175 to run away with?c1430 embezzle1469 steal?1473 surrept1548 cloyne1549 abstract1555 secrete1749 smuggle1768 to run off1821 snakea1861 sneak1883 snitch1904 palm1941 c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxviii. 13 Cuoðað gie þætte ðegnas his on næht cuomun &..stelende weron hine. a1400 Seuyn Sages (W.) 2652 He priked to the galewes with his fole, And fond that a thef was i-stole. c1440 Alphabet of Tales 281 Þe aungell stale þe syluer copp at þai dranke of. c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Augustine (1910) 14 Þei pulled up sail & stale þe schip from hir. 1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 14 Lyons, (which usually steale Beefe out of the water when Ships are here). 1749 G. Lavington Enthusiasm Methodists & Papists: Pt. II Pref. p. xxvii You have climbed up, and stole the sacred Fire from Heaven. 1830 Ld. Tennyson Ode to Memory i, in Poems 58 Thou who stealest fire From the fountains of the past. b. with away; rarely with other adverbs, as †down, †over. ΚΠ 1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur iv. xiv. 137 She alyghte of her hors & thoughte for to stele awey Excalibur his swerd. c1480 (a1400) St. Paul 401 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 40 Men..stall a-way be nycht þe twa bodis of mekill mycht of petir and paule, fra quhare þai lay. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 392 Quietlie awa the heid tha stall. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella xiv Vpon whose breast a fiercer Gripe doth tire Then did on him who first stale down the fire. 1587 J. Higgins Mirour for Magistrates (new ed.) Nero xii, (Letter) And bad them say, that his disciples stale his corps away. a1607 H. Chettle Trag. Hoffman (1631) sig. B2^v This is Hannce Hoffmans sonne. that stole downe his fathers Anotamy from the gallowes. 1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy ii. 31 Shall I fetch a Barbour to steale away his rough beard, whiles he sleepes? 1816 J. Wilson City of Plague ii. iv. 160 Many look With tears of sorrow on a mortal creature Whom death may steal away. c. Of an impersonal agent. ΚΠ 1844 A. B. Welby Poems (1867) 60 The wind! that for no creature careth, Yet stealeth sweets from every thing. 1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 72 The heat of the sun which quietly steals vapour from every exposed piece of water. d. To carry off (young animals) from the dam. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > stealing animals > [verb (transitive)] > carry off young animals steal13.. nugget1881 13.. K. Alis. 1890 The tiger, that fynt y-stole Hire weolp from hire hole. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. cxiii. 1262 The femel bere hatte vrsa and is most cruel beste whanne hire whelpes beþ ystole. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1769 Ther nas no tygre..Whan þ^t hir whelp is stole whan it is lyte So cruel on the hunte as is Arcite. a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox & Wolf l. 746 in Poems (1981) 32 Fra the gait he stall ane lytil kid. e. To carry off, abduct, kidnap (a person) secretly. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > kidnapping or abduction > kidnap or abduct [verb (transitive)] reavec1175 ravishc1330 stealc1386 proloyne1439 rapec1450 abduce1537 rapt1571 spirit1657 kidnap1682 abduct1772 nobble1877 shanghai1919 snatch1932 c1386 G. Chaucer Doctor's Tale 184 My seruant..Which fro myn hous was stole vp-on a nyght. a1505 R. Henryson Bludy Serk 19 in Poems (1981) 159 Stollin he hes the lady ȝing. 1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. x. 45 Him sall I sownd slepand staile away. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13197 Þat onone in the night, þat noble he stale Fro the souerain hir Syre. a1560 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Nyne Fyrst Bks. Eneidos (1562) x. sig. Ffiiij Was it by my conduct, thaduoutrer stale the Sparta quene? ?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda iv. ii. 72 O wicked Turque, for to steale her hence. 1690 J. Evelyn Diary (1955) V. 41 Executed..for being Compl<i>ce with Campbel..for stealing away a young heiresse. 1710 W. King Heathen Gods & Heroes (1722) xv. 63 She [sc. Proserpine] was stole away by Aidoneus. 1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. xv. 208 Their forcible abduction and marriage; which is vulgarly called stealing an heiress. 1788 E. Inchbald Child of Nature iv. ii. 51 Amanthis is lost, gone, stole from me! 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. xi. 181 The young Laird was stown away by a randy gipsy woman. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. iii. v. 184 Intent on stealing Majesty to Metz. †f. To capture (a fortress, a military position) by surprise. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > victory > make victorious [verb (transitive)] > capture or acquire by conquest i-wina1000 wina1122 fang?c1200 catchc1275 conquer1297 geta1400 stealc1400 conquer1475 conquest1485 conques1488 evict1560 carry1579 intake1646 constrain1700 capture1796 c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1778 Þay..Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen, Stelen stylly þe toun er any steuen rysed. c1450 Brut ii. 424 This Erle of Gascoigne..come be nyght, and stale the toune of Pounteyse of the Frensshe men, and drof hem oute. 1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 73 It is better therefore to endeuour priuily, to steale, if we can, and to lay hold of..a peece of the void mountaine, than [etc.]. g. dialect. To catch (wildfowl). ? Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > fowling > hunt birds [verb (transitive)] > catch birds steal1698 1698 M. Martin Late Voy. St. Kilda 111 Some Thousands being Catch'd, or, as they term it, Stolen every March. 4. In various applications with immaterial object. a. To cause the loss of, take away (something valued, e.g. happiness, a person's life, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > loss > taking away > take away [verb (transitive)] atbraidOE benimOE fornimOE to reach upOE reaveOE bilacchea1325 to take away1372 stealc1374 privea1387 beneme1387 reach?a1400 deprivec1400 subduce1434 embezzle1469 pluckc1475 fortakea1500 raima1500 devest1538 rig1573 imbolish1592 exact1660 drain1673 c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 1451 O crueel day accusour of þe Ioye That nyght and loue han stole and faste y-wryen. 1570 R. Sempill Spur to Lordis (single sheet) Thay Renigats..Hes stollin our Regentis lyfe. 1645 J. Milton Sonnet vii, in Poems 49 How soon hath Time the suttle theef of youth, Stoln on his wing my three and twentith yeer! a1721 M. Prior Poet. Wks. (1779) II. 103 Why dost thou..steal from life the needful hours of rest? 1777 W. Jones Palace of Fortune 24 A sudden cloud his senses stole. 1793 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 695 Her heart was tint, her peace was stown. 1806 G. Pinckard Notes W. Indies III. 269 Which..frequently causes us to steal another hour from the already too shortened day. b. To take without permission (esp. a kiss). †Also (cf. sense 6) to give (a kiss) to a person. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > kiss > [verb (transitive)] > take (a kiss) without permission steal1390 1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 348 If thou hast stolen eny cuss Or other thing which therto longeth. a1400–50 Wars Alex. 5385 Scho..stelis to him cussis. 1584 T. Lodge Delect. Hist. Forbonius & Prisceria (Shaks. Soc.) 99 Her pleasant kisse where she might steale a touch. 1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Eiij Lest she should steale a kisse and die forsworne. View more context for this quotation 1598 T. Bastard Chrestoleros ii. ii. 28 And yet a second course he vndertakes. And steeling leaue for gayne which is so deare, A third and fourth aduenture yet he makes. a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 910 O let me steal one liquid kiss! 1838 Times 14 Apr. 7/3 Mr. John Cunningham..appeared to answer the charge of stealing a sly kiss from the lips of..the pretty wife of a young tonsor. †c. To conceal improperly. (Cf. 5) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > hide, conceal [verb (transitive)] > improperly steal1303 1303 R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne 3691 No pryde ne may be stole, No yn shryfte be forhole. †d. To gain by secret or unobtrusive means. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > secretly stealc1426 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > gain stealc1426 suborn1541 smuggle1768 snakea1861 c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 48 Sum men þer ben þat stelon heuen With penans, prayers, and pouerte. 1605 G. Chapman Al Fooles ii. i. 371, 378 That hath stolne By his meere industry, and that by spurts Such qualities as no wit else can match With plodding at perfection every houre... I meane, besides his dycing and his wenching, He has stolne languages, th'Italian, Spanish, [etc.]. e. To take (time) by contrivance from its ordinary employment, sleep, etc. to devote to some other purpose. ΘΚΠ the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > save or spare time redeem1526 steal1526 spare1548 save?1556 behusband?a1639 retrieve1688 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Qii^v Be euer diligent..whan thou hast done all thy dutyes..to stele tyme, wherin thou mayst gyue thyselfe all holy to prayer. 1712 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 18 Nov. (1948) II. 577 This makes me sometimes steal a week from the exactness I used to write to Md. 1758 S. Hayward Seventeen Serm. xvii. 515 They must frequently steal an hour to converse with him [Christ] whom they love. 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 409 Both Chief Justice Hale and Lord Keeper Guildford stole some hours from the business of their courts to write on hydrostatics. f. To gain possession of, or to entice away from another (a person's heart, affections, etc.). ΘΚΠ the mind > will > motivation > attraction, allurement, or enticement > attract, allure, or entice [verb (transitive)] > away ofdraw?c1225 spana1250 to draw awayc1384 slock1483 steal1526 over-tempt1643 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Kiii^v Wherby he steleth many a soule fro god. 1587 D. Fenner Song of Songs iv. 9 Sister, my spouse, my hart thou hast stole with one eye Myne hart thou hast stole, with one chayne which on thy necke doeth lye. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Cc2 So did she steale his heedelesse hart away. 1596 J. Davies Orchestra lxxxvi. sig. C1 And they who first Religion did ordaine, By dauncing first the peoples harts did steale. 1605 1st Pt. Jeronimo sig. D3 Intending as it seemed by that sly shift, To steale away her troth. 1668 J. Flavell Saint Indeed 211 Take heed..least thy shop steal away thy heart from thy closet. 1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 108 Or hath some worthier Love Stole your Affections? 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. viii. 28 His expression [was]..so moving, that he stole away the Assent of all that heard him. 1720 J. Welwood Pref. to Rowe's Lucan p. xxxix The Muses had stoln away his heart from his infancy. 1794 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 739 Thou hast stown my very heart. 1835 G. P. R. James Gipsy i How many would steal from one the affection of one's mistress or wife! †g. To adopt or ‘borrow’ (what belongs to another art). Obsolete. ΚΠ a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. B3 Both he [sc. Herodotus] and all the rest that followed him, either stole or vsurped of Poetrie, their passionate describing of passions [etc.]. h. to steal (the) picture, scene, show: (colloquial (originally U.S.)) in theatrical contexts, to outshine unexpectedly the rest of the cast; also transferred, to become or make oneself the centre of attention; to steal (one's) thunder: see thunder n. 3d. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display or show off [verb (intransitive)] > become or make oneself centre of attention to steal (the) picture, scene, show1928 society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performer > appear as performer [verb (intransitive)] > be conspicuous success to fill the bill1882 to steal (the) picture, scene, show1928 1928 Amer. Speech 3 368 If a ‘part’ actor leaves a better impression on the audience and critics than the ‘star’,..the ‘part’ actor or actress ‘steals’ the picture. 1934 Everyman 24 Aug. 201/2 (caption) It seems we've stolen the show, Aussie. 1937 H. G. Wells Brynhild ix. 143 He appeared in bright new flannels,..the best-looking author in the bunch. He stole the picture. a1940 F. S. Fitzgerald Last Tycoon (1941) iii. 37 ‘Somebody been catching flies on him?’ she asked—a phrase for stealing scenes. 1942 E. Waugh Put out More Flags iii. 189 They came to the little party.., and stole the scene. 1962 W. H. Auden Dyer's Hand (1963) 185 Short of cutting him [sc. Falstaff] out of the play altogether, no producer can prevent him from stealing the show. 1979 Tucson (Arizona) Mag. Jan. 55/3 Kate Gardiner could well steal the show in the delectable role of Dorine. 5. a. To effect or accomplish clandestinely or unperceived; to get opportunity for (an action) by contrivance. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] steal1625 sneaka1657 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 59 Alwayes, when thou changest thine Opinion, or Course, professe it plainly and declare it..; And doe not thinke to steale it. 1681 H. More Plain Expos. Daniel 53 He might spring up with them and amongst them, but in such an occult manner, and so unawares, as if he had stoln his growth behind them. 1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iv. 31 What a mad coil you keep here, That people cannot steal a Nap, or sleep here? 1758 C. Lennox Henrietta II. v. ix. 267 I will make you no apology for stealing a visit to her. 1826 T. Hood Recipe for Civilization 86 When their force Can't take a town by open courage They steal an entry with its forage. 1857 J. Hamilton Lessons from Great Biogr. 264 He did not steal an interview [with Jesus], nor come, like Nicodemus, disguised. †b. With adjective complement or adverb. to steal oneself drunk: to get drunk secretly. to steal down (Scottish): to cause to fall, ruin, by secret means. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to > by secret means to steal down1570 tamper1817 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > destroy to steal down1570 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > operate secretly [verb (intransitive)] > get drunk to steal oneself drunk1670 the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > get drunk > secretly to steal oneself drunk1670 1570 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xvii. 101 Thy poysoun did doun steill Not only him quhom wofully thow woundit; Bot [etc.]. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 22 Machabie deuyses to cal Bancho and Fleanch..till a banket, that be sik a trayne quyetlie he may steil thame doune. 1670 T. Brooks Wks. (1867) VI. 67 So accordingly he stole himself drunk. 1719 G. London & H. Wise J. de la Quintinie's Compl. Gard'ner (ed. 7) 41 The difference of hot or cold Summers does steal more considerably forward, or set back the same Fruits, of one and the same Climate and Season. c. To direct (a look), breathe (a sigh) furtively. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > direct look or sigh steala1586 slink1923 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xiv. sig. I6^v As I..stale a looke on her. 1697 J. Dryden Alexander's Feast iv. 4 And, now and then, a Sigh he stole. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 106. ¶1 I have observed them stealing a Sight of me over an Hedge. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho III. vi. 181 She stole a glance at them. 1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood I. iii. 54 He stole a shy pleased look at me. †d. to steal a marriage: to get married secretly. Obsolete. [Compare Greek γάμον κλέπτειν.] ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > [verb (intransitive)] > marry secretly to steal a marriagea1500 a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xxi. 363 This mariage wolde he haue stole hadde no Merlin I-be. 1562 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages, Divorces, & Ratifications Diocese Chester (1897) 189 They did steale a mariage without banes askinge. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 133. ⁋7 A story I had heard of his intending to steal a marriage without the privity of us his intimate friends. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 130 You have stolen a Wedding it seems... How does your Lady unknown? 1782 F. Burney Cecilia V. x. vi. 287 ‘Your daughter..has made a little change in her situation, which she was anxious you should hear from myself.’ ‘Ha! ha! stolen a match upon you I warrant!’ cried the facetious Mr. Hobson. a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) III. x. 326 He..had stolen a marriage with an idiot sister of the Spanish Charles Townshend. c1820 S. Rogers Marguerite de Tours in Italy 45 They stole a match and fled. e. to steal a march: in military sense, to succeed in moving troops without the knowledge of the enemy; hence gen. to get a secret advantage over a rival or opponent. Const. on, upon, †of. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > outmanoeuvre to steal a march1716 society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (transitive)] > outmanoeuvre to steal a march1716 outgeneral1767 outmanoeuvre1796 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)] > succeed in moving troops by stealth to steal a march1716 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage > secretly to steal a march1716 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > cheat, swindle [phrase] > get the better of to do brown?1548 to give one the (or a) slampant1577 to play the merchant with1593 to come (or put) Yorkshire on one1700 to steal a march1716 to come (also act, play, etc.) the old soldier (over a person)1810 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > treat cunningly [verb (transitive)] > circumvent or overreach overgoc1275 circumvene1526 circumvent1564 undercreep1592 overreach1594 circuit1614 out-juggle1620 outwit?1630 out-plot1648 overwit1671 Cretizea1673 outjockey1714 to steal a march1771 to get over ——1784 Jew1825 outfox1872 outsmart1926 blindside1968 1716 Addr. Edinb. 27 Mar. in London Gaz. No. 5422/2 We saw him..steal a March for our Preservation. 1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber vi. 114 After we had stolen some few Days March upon them. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 127 She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. iv. 69 We must be off early to-morrow, while these good people are in bed, and steal a long march upon them. 1844 E. A. Poe in Godey's Lady's Bk. Sept. 133/1 He evidently intended to steal a march upon me, and smuggle a fine picture to New York, under my very nose. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 519 Those who had intended to gain the victory by stealing a march now disclaimed that intention. 1856 C. Reade It is never too Late II. ii. 18 Happening to awake earlier than usual, he stole a march on his nurses, and..walked out and tottered into the jail. 1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus 100 He shan't have the chance: we'll steal a march on him this time. 1950 T. S. Eliot Cocktail Party ii. 93 He's quite triumphant Because he thinks he's stolen a march on her. †f. To get a hasty glance at. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > succeed in seeing or catch sight of underyetec1000 aspya1250 kenc1275 ofyetec1275 choosea1300 akenc1300 descrivec1300 ofkenc1300 readc1300 espyc1320 descryc1330 spyc1380 discernc1405 discover1553 scan1558 scry1558 decern1559 describe1574 to make out1575 escry1581 interview1587 display1590 to set sight of (in)c1595 sight1602 discreevec1650 glance1656 to catch a glimpse of1679 steal1731 oversee1735 glimpse1779 twig1796 to clap eyes on1838 spot1848 sky1900 1731 H. Fielding Letter-writers i. ii. 7 Will you go steal an Act or two of the new Tragedy? Rak. Not I—I go to no Tragedy. g. In various games, esp. Cricket, Golf, Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey (see quots.). Also figurative. Also intransitive (in Baseball), esp. in to steal home. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > winning, losing, or scoring > win, lose, or score [verb (transitive)] > score get1634 make1680 score1742 notch1836 steal1836 to put up1860 rattle1860 to put on1865 tally1875 net1907 to rack up1921 slam1959 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > play baseball [verb (transitive)] > steal (a base) steal1836 pilfer1887 1836 New Sporting Mag. Oct. 361 [The batsmen's scores] added to the byes they stole, and the wide balls bowled, sufficed to make a hands of eighty-six runs. 1851 J. Pycroft Cricket Field x. 196 A sharp runner..will often try a longstop's temper by stealing runs. 1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days ii. viii. 388 He has stolen three byes in the first ten minutes. 1862 N.Y. Sunday Mercury 13 July 6/2 Creighton..made his base by a missed fly-catch of Sawyer's; Brainard and Young getting their runs by stealing in on the pitcher and catcher. 1874 H. Chadwick Base Ball Man. 47 If he [the batsman] steal home on the catcher or pitcher. 1881 R. Forgan Golfer's Handbk. 35 Steal, to hole an unlikely ‘put’ from a distance. 1882 Daily Tel. 24 June He next took Ramsay round to the leg boundary, and shortly stole a single off him also. 1891 N. Crane Baseball iv. 32 His antics in trying to deceive the fielders and steal a base excite great amusement among the..spectators. 1895 G. J. Manson Sporting Dict. Stealing a Base. When a base runner makes his next base by leading off and then running while the ball is being thrown by the pitcher to the catcher. 1895 Times 19 Feb. 11/4 The Englishmen were able to steal many runs. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 247/1 (Cricket) Steal runs, to get a run for a hit, when no run seems reasonably possible. 1936 Philadelphia Rec. 31 July 15/1 No Landon speech is likely to startle anybody. You know in advance that he will never take a full cut at the ball, try to steal a base or catch a line drive with one hand. 1938 M. Dutton Hockey vi. 110 It is hard enough to steal the puck in your own end zone, without trying to regain a lost puck in the other fellow's. 1942 C. Bee Basketball Library IV. ii. 7 An attempt to ‘steal’ the ball from a good dribbler often leaves the defensive player out of position. 1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 5 Feb. 18/3 Ballantyne was ahead 5–3 going into the sixth end, but Lawrie tied it up in the seventh and stole one in each of eighth and ninth for the victory. 1978 Boston Globe 4 Jan. 42/2 Hollins stole the ball with seven seconds to play and scored. 6. a. To place, move, or convey stealthily. Now somewhat rare. †to steal on: to put on (one's clothes, etc.) hastily, so as not to be observed (obsolete). to steal (some one or something) in: to smuggle in, procure secret entrance for. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > move towards or approach (a thing, place, or person) [verb (transitive)] > stealthily to steal ona1400 the world > movement > transference > [verb (transitive)] > convey or transport > in a stealthy manner steala1400 convey1526 smuggle1783 slive1821 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > convey shovec1374 steala1400 smuggle1783 slive1821 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)] > surreptitiously or subtly to steal (some one or something) ina1555 shuffle1565 slink1567 to come in at (also by) the window1590 insinuate1600 wimble1605 screw1614 sneak1680 oil1925 the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come into [verb (transitive)] > bring in > surreptitiously underbring1382 to steal (some one or something) ina1555 subintroducteda1641 subintroduce1643 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > accomplish clandestinely [verb (transitive)] > introduce to steal (some one or something) ina1555 insinuate1578 filch?1589 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > put on > in hasty or careless manner warpa1400 to throw ona1450 slip?a1513 slip1590 to steal on1649 huddle1697 slive1820 scuffle1844 a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3872 Bot þar [Laban] did a trecheri, For þan [Jacob] had may rachell wedd, Lia he stall vn-til his bedd. a1555 J. Bradford in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 470 Pray Walshe to steale you in, as I hope he will doe. 1633 G. Herbert Temple: Sacred Poems 43 I bath'd it often, ev'n with holy bloud, Which at a board, while many drunk base wine, A friend did steal into my cup for good. a1641 J. Webster & T. Heywood Appius & Virginia (1654) iv. 45 Thy violent Lust shall like the biting of the invenom'd Aspick, steal thee to hell. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche vi. xl. 78 He Knows why He gathers up his Tails ashamed Train And steals it round about his scaley Thigh. 1649 W. Davenant Love & Honour iv. i. 65 Steale on this funerall habit. 1656 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa V. iii. ii. 88 I stole the letter into Monyma's hand. 1710 H. Bedford Vindic. Church of Eng. 179 The Words..were..stol'n into the..Article. a1712 J. Lauder Decisions (1759) I. 292 The Merchants did undersel them, by stealing in English cloth that was prohibit. 1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 354. ⁋3 The Prentice speaks his Disrespect by an extended Finger, and the Porter by stealing out his Tongue. 1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity ii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 447 I..from beneath his Head, at dawning Day, With softest Care have stol'n my Arm away. c1730 A. Ramsay For Sake Somebody iii I'll..steal on linens fair and clean. a1734 R. North Autobiogr. (1887) i. 3 But there was another use made of this botle, for our Mother would steal into it slices of Rubarb, and..this way, it was stole upon us, and not tainted with aversions. 1744 S. Johnson Acct. Life R. Savage 183 Nor [did he] ever read his Verses without stealing his Eyes from the Page, to discover, in the Faces of his Audience, how they were affected. 1752 H. Walpole Let. to H. Mann 28 Oct. [Lord Coventry] coursed his wife round the table, on suspecting that she had stolen on a little red, seized her, scrubbed it off by force with a napkin, and then told her, that [etc.]. 1769 H. Brooke Fool of Quality IV. xvii. 63 He stole a bill for 160l. into his hand, saying..there is what I owe you. 1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. ii. 10 Whose constant vigils chase the chilling damp Oblivion steals upon her vestal lamp. 1817 T. Moore Lalla Rookh (ed. 2) 165 If the sweet hours of intercourse so imprudently allowed them should have stolen into his heart the same fatal fascination as into hers. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian v, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 120 The hag..now unclosed her hand, stole it away from the weapon, and suffered it to fall by her side. 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 199 Slily steal thy bonnet on,..And wander out with me. 1824 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 397 It may amuse you, to show when, and by what means, they stole this law in upon us. 1883 D. C. Murray Joseph's Coat xxxiv It was noticed that the silent two had stolen each a hand towards the other's and thus..they sat handed. †b. To fire (a gun) stealthily. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > traverse stealthily [verb (transitive)] > fire a gun steal1794 society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > discharge firearms [verb (intransitive)] > types of firing plunge1761 steal1794 snipe1832 to fire into the brown (of them)1845 pot1854 pot-shoot1867 group1911 pot-shot1913 1794 Nelson in Sotheby's Catal. (1900) 26 Feb. 118 Except one general discharge and a gun now and then stole at us, we have had no opposition. c. Of a hen: To make (her nest) in a concealed place. Also U.S. of a ewe: To bring forth (lambs) out of season. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [verb (transitive)] > make nest (of hen) steal1742 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > genus Ovus > [verb (transitive)] > give birth > out of season steal1859 1742 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman July xvi. 99 One of my Hen Pheasants..got Abroad, and stole her Nest. 1854 Poultry Chron. 1 436 Turkey hens generally steal their nests, but do not readily forsake them, unless scared. 1859 L. F. Allen New Amer. Farm Bk. (1883) 417 If young ewes have stolen lambs, they should be taken away from them immediately after yeaning. 1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §979. 466 When laying every hen likes extreme privacy. This is why fowls when at liberty ‘steal’ their nests as it is called. 7. technical. To omit or suppress (some out of a usual number of parts of a structure). a. Nautical. (See quot. 1711.) ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > make incomplete [verb (transitive)] > omit (some usual parts from a structure) steal1711 1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 47 It's therefore very customary in many Ships to drop, or steal, as they term it, some Strakes short of the Stern. b. Netting. (? Implied in stolen adj.) II. To go secretly or quietly. †8. reflexive. To withdraw oneself secretly or quietly. Chiefly with away. Obsolete. rare.[So Old Norse stela-sk. For the development of meaning cf. French dérober to steal, se dérober to hide oneself.] ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (reflexive)] > go away quietly or surreptitiously stealc1386 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > withdraw, steal away [verb (reflexive)] stealc1386 wile?a1400 diskenc1460 convey1535 sneak1680 c1386 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 282 For which as soone as it myghte be He stal hym hoom agayn to his contree. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3918 Laban o leue þam nicked nai, And þai bi night þam stal a way. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxviii. 590 Alas, ye stale awaye yourself by nyghte. 1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xvi. 381 Whan the spye had wel vnderstonde all the conclucion, he stele hymself fro the company. 1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey III. xi. 165 So peaceful shalt thou end thy blissful days, And steal thy self from life, by slow decays. 9. a. intransitive. To depart or withdraw secretly or surreptitiously from a place. Chiefly with adverb, as away, †forth, off, out, or const. from, out of. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away quietly or stealthily steal1154 to steal one's wayc1385 skew?a1400 astealc1400 fleetc1400 slip?c1450 shrink1530 flinch1563 shift1594 foist1603 shab1699 slope1851 smuggle1865 sneak1896 mope1914 to oil out1945 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] besteala725 snikec897 steal1154 creepc1175 skulk?c1225 snaker?c1225 stalkc1300 slenchc1330 lurka1375 slinkc1374 snokec1380 slide1382 slipc1400 mitchera1575 sneak1598 snake1818 sly1825 snoop1832 to steal one's way1847 sniggle1881 gumshoe1897 slime1898 pussyfoot1902 soft-foot1913 cat-foot1916 pussy1919 pussa1953 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > move off or away steal1154 atslip?c1225 atcreepc1275 to steal one's wayc1385 glide1393 atslikec1400 fleetc1400 flinch1563 outsteala1586 leer1586 shift1594 shab1699 slive1707 ghost1833 to oil out1945 1154 Anglo-Saxon Chron. ann. 1140 & te æorl stæl ut & ferde efter Rodbert eorl of Gloucestre. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7493 Heo swiðe stille stelen ut of buruwe. c1290 Magdalene 540 in S.E. Leg. 477 Marie..stal a-wey from hire kunne. 1487 in H. E. Malden Cely Papers (1900) 171 Diversse of them stelyth dayly aweye and goyth to Myddelborow. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale awaye, I convaye my selfe prively out of syght, or out of company. 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 178 How Wortigerne for Dreid of Hungest staw in the Walis. 1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc v. ii. 40 And other sort..Stale home by silence of the secret night. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 294 The Earle of Angus was stowin quyitlie out of his ludging. 1580 J. Stow Chrons. of Eng. 533 But when they saw the King came not, they stealed away, and left the Earle of Salisburie in manner alone. 1596 in J. Stuart Misc. Spalding Club (1841) I. 86 Thow was apprehendit..steilling furth of the said..Adam Mairis yard, at twa houris in the morning, greyn growand bear. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary ii. 57 The Lord Deputie..received advertisement..that Tyrone..was stolne out of Mounster with sixe hundred in his company. 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. xvi. 135 Other Captains secretly stole home. 1667 J. Dryden Indian Emperour iv. iv. 53 The gods are good; I'le leave her to their care, Steal from my Post, and in the Plunder share. 1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband v. i. 47 My Lady Graveairs had an Eye upon me, as I stole off. 1761 D. Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxvii. 131 Many of them had stolen from the camp, and retired homewards. a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance (1775) III. viii. 251 She had stole out in order to acquaint me of this. 1786 F. Burney Diary 18 July (1842) III. 22 The sub-governess, stole from her charges, and came to the window. 1867 W. Morris Life & Death of Jason ii. 34 But made him think of some beast from his lair Stolen forth at the beginning of the night. 1869 H. F. Tozer Res. Highlands of Turkey II. 267 Maria stole off to the honey. 1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 232 The inhabitants had stolen away and taken up a position on the top of the hills. b. with adverbial accusative, to steal one's way (†in early use = to steal away). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away quietly or stealthily steal1154 to steal one's wayc1385 skew?a1400 astealc1400 fleetc1400 slip?c1450 shrink1530 flinch1563 shift1594 foist1603 shab1699 slope1851 smuggle1865 sneak1896 mope1914 to oil out1945 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > move off or away steal1154 atslip?c1225 atcreepc1275 to steal one's wayc1385 glide1393 atslikec1400 fleetc1400 flinch1563 outsteala1586 leer1586 shift1594 shab1699 slive1707 ghost1833 to oil out1945 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] besteala725 snikec897 steal1154 creepc1175 skulk?c1225 snaker?c1225 stalkc1300 slenchc1330 lurka1375 slinkc1374 snokec1380 slide1382 slipc1400 mitchera1575 sneak1598 snake1818 sly1825 snoop1832 to steal one's way1847 sniggle1881 gumshoe1897 slime1898 pussyfoot1902 soft-foot1913 cat-foot1916 pussy1919 pussa1953 c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 2174 He..as a traytour stal his wey. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1879) VII. 101 That Edricus seenge the Danes to be inclynede, stale his weye from the hoste. c1500 Three Kings' Sons (1895) 152 Some stale their wey, and lefte the places allone. 1847 L. H. Kerr tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Servia 182 During the night, he, with his Momkes, stole his way into the midst of their camp. 1884 W. Collins I say No ix Steal your way into that poor little fool's heart. c. Hunting. to steal away. Of a hunted animal: To leave its lair unperceived and gain a start of the pursuers. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > animals hunted > [verb (intransitive)] > gain start on pursuers to steal awayc1369 the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > action of game > [verb (intransitive)] to stand, be (abide obs.) at bayc1314 to steal awayc1369 stalla1425 starta1425 rusec1425 beatc1470 lodgec1470 trason1486 rouse1532 angle1575 bolt1575 to take squat1583 baya1657 watch1677 fall1697 tree1699 to go away1755 to sink the wind1776 to get up1787 to go to ground1797 lie1797 to stand up1891 fly1897 c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 381 And so, at the laste, This hert Rused and staale away Fro alle the houndes a prevy way. a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) xxxiii To se if þe deer þat is herbowrede wolde sterte and steele away or þe lymer meved hym. 1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 116. ⁋5 That 'twas a Wonder they had not lost all their Sport, for want of the silent Gentleman's crying Stole Away. 1756 S. Foote Englishman return'd from Paris ii. 35 Hola, Sr. Toby, stole away! 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. vi. 131 I..soon heard, far behind, the ‘hey whoop! stole away! stole away!’ of my baffled pursuers. 1872 ‘Idstone’ Dog ii. 19 Just then..there was a rustle amongst the long grass, and a fine dog fox..stole away. †d. figurative of things. Obsolete. (Distinct from 11.) ΚΠ a1366 Romaunt Rose 371 The tyme that..steleth from vs so priuely. c1412 T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum 5248 But it [prosperity] a-way gan stele Whan þei him drough to profyte singuler. 10. a. To go or come secretly or stealthily; to walk or creep softly so as to avoid observation. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > softly or stealthily creepc1175 skulk?c1225 stealc1374 slipc1400 sneak1598 crawl1623 snake1848 slime1898 oil1925 c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 81 And to þe Grekes ost ful pryely He stal a noon. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 12524 Iosep..sent him to þe yerd..For to gedir þam sum cale; And iesus still him efter stal. a1505 R. Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice 259 in Poems (1981) 140 And Orpheus atour his [sc. Cerberus'] wame in stall, And nethir mare he went. 1544 P. Betham tr. J. di Porcia Preceptes Warre ii. vii. sig. K ij Yf he steale into the campe, by walles or ditches, dryuen by no great feare, he is worthye the same punyshment. 1577–87 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. xiii. 246 Such of Belgie as stale over hither from the maine. a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. i. sig. Ii6 [He] stale vp into Pamelaes chamber. 1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. D2^v Affection is like the Snayle, which stealeth to the top of the lance by minutes. 1596 W. Raleigh Discoverie Guiana (new ed.) 4 The same evening there stale also abord vs in a small Canoa two Indians. a1642 J. Suckling Poems 38 in Fragmenta Aurea (1646) Her feet beneath her Petticoat, Like little mice stole in and out. 1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur ii. 64 The timorous Hare steals from the Brakes. 1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 2 Sept. (1948) I. 3 I have stole here again to finish this Lettr. 1778 F. Burney Evelina II. ii. 18 Madame Duval..stole softly down stairs, desiring me to follow her. 1799 T. Campbell Pleasures of Hope & Other Poems i. 325 On Erie's banks, where tigers steal along. 1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) iii. 33 They steal to one another's houses when they think we are asleep. 1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. iii. iii. 107 At nightfall, President Lamoignon steals over to the Controller's. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxvii. 117 There were..soft whisperings and foot-falls in the chamber, as one after another stole in, to look at the dead. 1859 E. FitzGerald tr. Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám xlii. 9 And lately,..Came stealing through the Dusk an Angel Shape Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder. 1877 W. Black Green Pastures & Piccadilly I. ii. 19 The Lady Sylvia..dressed, and stole noiselessly down the stairs. b. figurative. ΚΠ 1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. C4 Such vpstarts..wil at last steale by degrees into some credit by their double diligence. 1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 3 Yet, neverthelesse, since that time; there hath beene another Impression of the same stolne into the world. 1679 C. Ness Distinct Disc. Antichrist 213 It stole into the world..unsensibly, and at unawares. 1761 C. Churchill Night 9 Calm, independent, let me steal thro life. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 342 The child of which he is the father, if it steals into life. †c. With to adv. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1250 Owl & Night. 1432 An go to him bi daies lihte þat er stal to bi þeostre nihte. c1290 Barnabas 98 in S. Eng. Leg. 29 Ake cristine Men þat weren bi-side stelen to bi niȝte. d. To come stealthily on or upon a person for the purpose of attack or injury. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > attack > attack [verb (transitive)] > attack stealthily steal13.. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > hostile action or attack > make an attack upon [verb (transitive)] > lie in wait for > steal on in order to attack steal13.. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > move stealthily [verb (intransitive)] > with hostile intent steal13.. creepc1380 tranont1487 13.. King Alis. (Laud) 3989 For þou hast demed þi self here þoo þou..stale byhynden on oure kyng. c1369 G. Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 654 At the chesse..She staale on me and toke my fers. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. vii. 106 ‘Ich am wratthe’, quaþ þat wye, ‘wol gladliche smyte Boþe with ston and with staf, and stele vp-on myn enemy.’ 1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 21 Þo schrewed wormes, Þat steleth on þe stedis to stynge hem to deth. c1450 Brut ii. 379 And aftir come þer tydynges..þat þere was a new Batayle of Frenschmen ordeyned, redy to stele on hem, and comyn towarde hym. 1508 J. Stanbridge Vulgaria (W. de W.) B iij b He came stelynge vpon me, Adortus est me. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 734/2 I steale upon one, I come prively upon hym, je viens a lemblée. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iii. f. 156^v The Catte..stealing suddenly and swiftly vpon the Mouse. 1598 T. Rogers Celestiall Elegies sig. C4^v Death stole vppon her with his Eben darte. a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. vii. 80 Death steals treacherously upon us, when we least look for it. 1680 Debates Ho. Commons (1681) 115 I believe it was only to quiet our Thoughts, while Popery steals on upon us. 1704 N. Rowe Ulysses ii. i. 569 The God of Sleep Insensible and soft, had stole upon me. a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 377 Tak some on the wing, and some as they spring, But cannily steal on a bonie moor-hen. 1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. iv. 50 With the stealthy step..of the cat that steals on her prey. 11. Of things. a. Of time (with on, away): to come or go unobserved. ΘΚΠ the world > time > [verb (intransitive)] > imperceptibly or unobserved glidea1325 slip1564 steal1592 escape1836 1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. iii. sig. G4 Then time steales on: and steales, and steales. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio Hist. Uniting Portugall to Castill 19 But in the meane space time steales away. a1616 W. Shakespeare Comedy of Errors (1623) iv. i. 52 The houre steales on, I pray you sir dispatch. View more context for this quotation 1773 H. More Search after Happiness ii. 143 No plan e'er mark'd the duties of the day, Which stole in tasteless apathy away. 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay xi. 169 Years stole on, and he didn't care to move about much. b. Of a condition, esp. sleep, insensibility, infirmities, etc.: To come insensibly over or on a person. ΚΠ 14.. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903) 279 Ȝif any sterynge on me stele. 1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 27 That be the proces of tyme vnthankful forȝetfulnes steil not vpon us. 1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 9 So on us stole our blessed change; while we Th'effect did feel but scarce the manner see. 1807 Salmagundi 24 Nov. 368 Infirmities had stolen upon him. 1812 G. Crabbe Tales xix. 348 He began to feel Some self-approval on his bosom steal. 1827 T. De Quincey Last Days Kant in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 140/2 The infirmities of age now began to steal upon Kant. 1834 Life Adam Clarke iv. 101 Mr. Clarke..began to feel a sense of drowsiness steal over him. 1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. ii. 77 A kind of pleasant stupor was stealing over me. c. Of a stream, tears, a body of vapour, a ship, etc.: To glide, or move gently and almost imperceptibly. Also with adverb, along, on, out. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > move progressively in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > smoothly slidea950 scritheOE glidea1275 silec1400 swima1556 steal1626 slip1680 snoove1719 skate1775 sleek1818 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §919 The Vapour of Char-Coale..is the more dangerous, because it commeth without any Ill Smell; But stealeth on by little and little. 1683 I. Walton Chalkhill's Thealma & Clearchus 93 Anon she drops a tear That stole along her cheeks. 1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 23 Now Sighs steal out, and Tears begin to flow. 1737 S. Berington Mem. G. di Lucca 67 With Tears stealing down his Cheeks. 1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 105 Auld, hermit Aire staw thro' his woods, On to the shore. 1849 A. Helps Friends in Council II. i. ii. 26 Look at that ungainly puppy trying to catch the thistledown as it steals up the hill. 1874 M. A. Barker Station Life N.Z. xvii. 135 The faint wreath of smoke stealing up through the calm air. 1896 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Flotsam i. 1 The Hooghly was stealing past the quiet bungalow built on the bank. 1898 R. Bridges Hymn Nat. in Poet. Wks. (1912) 404 The white ships swim, And steal to havens far. d. Of sound, fragrance, light: To become gradually perceptible. Const. on, upon, (the sense). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > have effect on [verb (transitive)] > by insensible degrees steal1637 the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > perceive, be aware of [verb (intransitive)] > become perceptible steal1637 1637 J. Milton Comus 19 At last a soft, and solemne breathing sound Rose like a steame of rich distill'd Perfumes And stole upon the aire, that even Silence Was tooke e're she was ware. 1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Prometheus Chain'd in tr. Æschylus Tragedies 12 Ah me! what sound, what softly-breathing odour Steals on my sense? 1787 R. Burns Poems (new ed.) 201 When on my ear this plaintive strain, Slow-solemn, stole. c1790 W. L. Bowles Sonn. ‘As one who long’, With such delight, o'er all my heart I feel, Sweet Hope! thy fragrance pure and healing incense steal. 1822 C. Lamb in London Mag. Feb. 177/1 You could see the first dawn of an idea stealing slowly over his countenance. †e. To insinuate itself, find acceptance in disguise. Also, to gain influence by imperceptible degrees. Const. on. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > operation upon something > exert operative influence [verb (intransitive)] > by insensible degrees steala1586 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > be stealthy [verb (intransitive)] > intrude stealthily creepc1380 steala1586 screw1614 worm1627 sap1733 weasel1963 a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. D4^v Whose pretty Allegories, stealing vnder the formall tales of Beastes, make many..begin to heare the sound of vertue. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche xvii. ccli. 333 The Art Of charming Sanctitie can steal upon The coldest Bosome. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Wales 23 With a smooth stream..his matter by a lawful and laudable felony, did steal secretly into the hearts of his hearers. 1805 E. Clark Banks of Douro I. 259 The society of Montague;..insensibly stole on her esteem. †f. To operate by insensible degrees upon. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1639 G. Plattes Discov. Subterraneall Treasure 19 When you use them [sc. the new pots] set them in the fire at the first kindling: and so let the Fire steale upon them till they be red hot. †g. to steal off: to diverge in an inconspicuous way.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ 1793 Earl of Dundonald Descr. Estate Culross 30 From the..main lay of the Coal..a leader of Coal steals off as it were. †h. To develop by insensible degrees from; to pass or change insensibly into, to something else. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > change to something else, transformation > gradual change > change gradually [verb (intransitive)] > from or into slidea1398 growc1460 wear1555 accrue1586 ripen1611 shuffle1635 melt1651 steal1660 spawn1677 verge1757 to glide into1800 shade1819 evolve?1831 shadow1839 grade1892 1660 J. Dryden Astræa Redux 9 As wise Artists mix their colours so That by degrees they from each other go, Black steals unheeded from the neighb'ring white. 1744 W. Collins Epist. T. Hanmer 10 Chast and subdu'd the modest Lights decay, Steal into Shade, and mildly melt away. 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel II. 34 Buds to blossoms softly steal. 1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. iii. 60 A bright sun-shiny afternoon was stealing into twilight. i. Of an event, a proposal: To come upon a person without attracting attention. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [verb (intransitive)] > emerge or present itself to come in (also to, on, etc.) placec1225 astart1393 becomea1400 emerge1570 bubble1578 to flower off1644 steal1798 to gust up1813 to crop up1844 outcrop1856 1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 336 Day had unobserved stolen upon them. 1819 J. Marshall Writings upon Federal Constit. (1839) 161 The bill..did not steal upon an unsuspecting legislature. Compounds The verb-stem in combination: steal-clothes n. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > others sitisota1400 papsea1450 half-bowl1477 pluck at the crow1523 white and black1555 running game1581 blow-pointa1586 hot cocklesa1586 one penny1585 cockelty bread1595 pouch1600 venter-point1600 hinch-pinch1603 hardhead1606 poor and rich1621 rowland-hoe1622 hubbub1634 handicap?a1653 owl1653 ostomachy1656 prelledsa1660 quarter-spellsa1660 yert-point1659 bob-her1702 score1710 parson has lost his cloak1712 drop (also throw) (the) handkerchief1754 French Fox1759 goal1765 warpling o' the green1768 start1788 kiss-in-the-ring1801 steal-clothes1809 steal-coat1816 petits paquets1821 bocce1828 graces1831 Jack-in-the-box1836 hot hand1849 sparrow-mumbling1852 Aunt Sally1858 gossip1880 Tambaroora1882 spoof1884 fishpond1892 nim1901 diabolo1906 Kim's game1908 beaver1910 treasure-hunt1913 roll-down1915 rock scissors paper1927 scissors cut paper1927 scissors game1927 the dozens1928 toad in the hole1930 game1932 scissors paper stone1932 Roshambo1936 Marco Polo1938 scavenger hunt1940 skish1940 rock paper scissors1947 to play chicken1949 sounding1962 joning1970 arcade game1978 1809 Edinb. Rev. 14 143 ‘Wadds.’ This youthful amusement..is called, on the Borders, by the very appropriate name of Scotch and English. In the south of England, it has the blunter appellation of steal-clothes. 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Stealy-clothes, or Watch-webs, a game.] steal-coat n. (see quots.). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > other specific games > [noun] > others sitisota1400 papsea1450 half-bowl1477 pluck at the crow1523 white and black1555 running game1581 blow-pointa1586 hot cocklesa1586 one penny1585 cockelty bread1595 pouch1600 venter-point1600 hinch-pinch1603 hardhead1606 poor and rich1621 rowland-hoe1622 hubbub1634 handicap?a1653 owl1653 ostomachy1656 prelledsa1660 quarter-spellsa1660 yert-point1659 bob-her1702 score1710 parson has lost his cloak1712 drop (also throw) (the) handkerchief1754 French Fox1759 goal1765 warpling o' the green1768 start1788 kiss-in-the-ring1801 steal-clothes1809 steal-coat1816 petits paquets1821 bocce1828 graces1831 Jack-in-the-box1836 hot hand1849 sparrow-mumbling1852 Aunt Sally1858 gossip1880 Tambaroora1882 spoof1884 fishpond1892 nim1901 diabolo1906 Kim's game1908 beaver1910 treasure-hunt1913 roll-down1915 rock scissors paper1927 scissors cut paper1927 scissors game1927 the dozens1928 toad in the hole1930 game1932 scissors paper stone1932 Roshambo1936 Marco Polo1938 scavenger hunt1940 skish1940 rock paper scissors1947 to play chicken1949 sounding1962 joning1970 arcade game1978 1816 Gentleman's Mag. July 36/1 In Lancashire we have a game, for which I can procure no other name than Steal Coat. † steal-counter n. Obsolete ? a gamester who cheats by stealing counters (in quot. 1601 figurative). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > games of chance > [noun] > player of games of chance > cheat or swindler butter1474 rooka1568 steal-counter1588 nicker1669 sharper1681 tat-monger1688 gambler1735 blackleg1767 gouger1790 sharp1797 tatsman1825 leggism1843 spieler1859 sniggler1887 1588 Hay any Work 6 That olde stealecounter masse priest, John O Glossester. 1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Summarie Answere to Darel 79 You are now (like a steale-counter) thus couertly creeping vnto their supposed dispossessions by prayer and fasting. † steal-placard n. Obsolete one who has stolen a ‘placard’ or begging licence. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > poverty > mendicancy > [noun] > beggar > who has stolen begging licence steal-placard1596 feaguer1610 1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. N^v Pigmey Dicke..is such another Venerian steale Placard as Iohn was. † steal-truth n. Obsolete a heresy. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > heresy > [noun] dwildOE misbeliefa1225 heresy?c1225 sect13.. misbelieving1340 irreligion1592 miscredence1603 steal-truth1628 Zendicism1697 pseudo-religion1856 Manichaeism1894 1628 H. Lynde Via Tuta 48 By which publique notice, the steale-truth was discouered. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2022). stealv.² Brit. /stiːl/, U.S. /stil/ Etymology: < steal n.¹ Now dialect. transitive. To furnish with a handle. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > manufacturing processes > making tools, equipment, or fastenings > make tools, equipment, or fastenings [verb (transitive)] > furnish tool with handle haftc1430 helvec1440 stave1542 steal1543 handle1600 shaft1611 stouk1686 tree1864 1543 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 356 Payd to viij masons, every of them, for stelyng of ther ger, 12d. To ij prentec' for thir stelyng sylver, 2s. 1570–80 in J. Raine Fabric Rolls York Minster (1859) 117 For mendinge and styling four chesells. 1573 in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Ld. Middleton (1911) 434 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 5567) XXVII. 1 For steeling an axe for John Dune..xij d. 1580 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 194 For mendyng and stelyng of a pycke iij s. vj d. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹c700n.²c1200v.¹c725v.²1543
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stealn.1

stealn.2

stealv.1

Compounds

stealv.2

stealn.¹

stealn.²

stealv.¹

stealv.²