rob
UK: rɒb | US: rɑːb
vt. to take property unlawfully from a person or place by force or threat
vt. to deprive someone of something unjustly
vi. (archaic) to commit robbery
The word "rob" traces back to Old French rober ("to steal, plunder"), which likely derived from a Germanic source (compare Old High German roubōn). The core idea of "taking by force" has remained consistent, though its usage narrowed in English to focus on theft. Unlike many Latin-derived legal terms, "rob" reflects a blunt, action-oriented Germanic root, emphasizing the violent act rather than the legal consequences.
The masked man tried to rob the bank at gunpoint.
Poor maintenance has robbed the painting of its original vibrancy.
In medieval times, outlaws would rob travelers on lonely roads.
He felt robbed of his chance to compete fairly.
The novel’s villain schemes to rob the royal treasury.