theft
UK: θɛft | US: θɛft
n. the act of stealing another person's property
n. (legal) the unlawful taking of someone else's possessions with intent to permanently deprive them of it
theft = thiev<steal> + t<noun suffix>
- thiev (from Old English thēof, meaning "thief" or "to steal")
- t (a nominal suffix forming abstract nouns, often indicating an action or result)
Etymology Origin:
The word "theft" traces back to Old English thēofth, derived from thēof (thief) + the suffix -th (equivalent to modern "-t"), which denoted abstract nouns. Over time, the spelling evolved to "theft," retaining the core idea of stealing. The morpheme "thiev" reflects the agent (thief), while the suffix "-t" transforms it into the concept of the act itself. This mirrors similar Germanic constructions, where verb roots combine with suffixes to form action nouns (e.g., "gift" from give + -t).
The store installed cameras to prevent theft.
He was arrested for the theft of a valuable painting.
Identity theft has become a major concern in the digital age.
The insurance policy covers losses due to theft.
She reported the theft of her wallet to the police.