purloin
UK: pɜːˈlɔɪn | US: pɜːrˈlɔɪn
vt. to steal something, especially in a sneaky or dishonest way
The word purloin entered English in the 15th century from Anglo-French purloigner, meaning "to put away" or "remove." Over time, its meaning shifted from simply "removing" to "stealing secretly," reflecting the idea of taking something away dishonestly. The morphemes pur- (forth) and loin (far) combine to evoke the act of carrying something away, reinforcing the word’s association with theft.
The thief managed to purloin the jewels without being noticed.
He was accused of purloining confidential documents from the office.
The librarian discovered that someone had purloined a rare book from the collection.
She purloined her brother’s favorite pen and hid it in her drawer.
The spy’s mission was to purloin sensitive information from the enemy.