Steal

Definition of Steal

Pronunciation: stēl
n.1.A handle; a stale, or stele.
And in his hand a huge poleax did bear.
Whose steale was iron-studded but not long.
- Spenser.
v. t.1.To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another.
[imp. Stole (stōl); p. p. Stolen (stō"l'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Stealing.]
Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence
Or steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.
- Chaucer.
The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in alms.
- G. Eliot.
2.To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate.
They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission.
- Spenser.
He will steal himself into a man's favor.
- Shak.
3.To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- 2 Sam. xv. 6.
4.To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; - with away.
Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject.
- I. Watts.
5.To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it.
- Bacon.
To steal a march
to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; - formerly followed by of, but now by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march upon one's political rivals.
She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
- Smollett.
Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.
- Walpole.
v. i.1.To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.
Thou shalt not steal.
- Ex. xx. 15.
2.To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away, unperceived; to go or come furtively.
Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly all company, one night she stole away.
- Sir P. Sidney.
From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.
- Shak.
A soft and solemn breathing sound
Rose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes,
And stole upon the air.
- Milton.

Related Words

abstract, acquire, adopt, advantageous purchase, and, annex, appropriate, assume, bag, bargain, boost, borrow, burglary, cabbage, caper, catch up, claim, clap hands on, clasp, claw, clench, clinch, clout, clutch, collar, coon, cop, copy, couch, crawl, creep, crib, crook, defraud, derive from, drain off, draw off, embrace, extort, filch, fleece, frisk, get, get away with, get hold of, glide, glom on to, go on tiptoe, good buy, good pennyworth, grab, grab hold of, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, grovel, gumshoe, heist, hijack, hoist, hook, hug, imitate, inch, inch along, infringe, job, larceny, lay hands on, lay hold of, lay wait, liberate, lie in wait, lift, lurk, make off with, make use of, misappropriate, mock, mooch, mouse, nab, nail, nick, nightwalk, nip, nip up, pad, palm, partake, peculate, pennyworth, pillage, pinch, pirate, plagiarize, plunder, poach, pocket, possess, prig, prowl, purloin, purloining, pussyfoot, receive, rifle, rip-off, robbery, run away with, rustle, scrabble, scramble, scrounge, seize, shadow, shanghai, shirk, sidle, simulate, skulk, slide, slink, slip, snake, snap up, snare, snatch, sneak, snitch, stalk, steal along, stealage, stealing, swindle, take, take away, take by assault, take by storm, take hold of, take on, take over, take possession, theft, thieve, thievery, thieving, tippytoe, tiptoe, touch, usurp, vulture, walk off with, whip up, worm, worm along
Word:

Browse

Stayed
Stayedly
Stayedness
Stayer
Staylace
Stayless
Staymaker
Staynil
Staysail
Stayship
Stead
Steadfast
Steadfastly
Steadfastness
Steadily
Steadiness
Steading
Steady
Steady rest
Steak
-Steal-
Stealer
Stealing
Stealingly
Stealth
Stealthful
Stealthily
Stealthiness
Stealthlike
Stealthy
Steam
Steam blower
Steam boiler
Steam car
Steam carriage
Steam casing
Steam chest
Steam chimney
Steam coil
Steam colors
Steam cylinder
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

© 2009 Interapple, Inc. Cover