391. Theft

See also 103. CRIME .

abaction

the stealing of whole herds of cattle, as contrasted with a few head. — abactor, n.

asportation

unlawful removal of goods from where they are deposited or stored.

banditry

the practice of being a bandit.

bibliokleptomania

1. a kleptomania specializing in books.

2. the motivations of a biblioklept. — bibliokleptomaniac , n.

brigandism

the practice of pillage, often destructive, usually practiced by a band of robbers. Also brigandage. — brigand , n. — brigandish, adj.

dacoity

murder and robbery committed by dacoits, a class of criminals in India and Burma.

despoliation

a despoiling; an act of robbery on a large scale; pillage.

direption

Obsolete, pillage; the act of plundering.

embezzlement

the misappropriation of funds that have been entrusted to one for care or management. Also called peculation . — embezzler , n.

excoriation

Obsolete, the act of stripping of possessions wrongfully and by force; spoliation or robbery.

harpaxophobia

an abnormal fear of robbers.

kleptomania, cleptomania

Psychology. an irresistible impulse to steal, especially when the thief can afford to pay. — kleptomaniac , n.

kleptophobia, cleptophobia

an abnormal fear of thieves or of loss through thievery.

ladronism

1. SW. U.S. an act of thievery.

2. Scots Dialect, blackguardism and roguery. — ladrone, ladron, n.

peculation

embezzlement. — peculator , n.

pilferage

1. petty stealing or pilfering.

2. the articles stolen in pilfering.

pillage

1. the act of plundering or large scale robbery, usually accompanied by violence as in wartime.

2. plundered property; booty.

piracy

the act of robbery on the high seas. See also 366. SHIPS . — pirate , n. — piratic, piratical , adj.

plagiarism

1. the verbatim copying or imitation of the language, ideas, or thoughts of another author and representing them as one’s own original work.

2. the material so appropriated. Also plagiary. — plagiarist , n. — plagiaristic, adj .

predation

the act or process of pillaging or plundering.

rapacity

the state or quality of being excessively greedy or given to theft. — rapacious, adj.

rapine

the act of pillage or plundering.

spoliation

the process of robbing or plundering, especially in time of war and on a large scale. See also 81. CHURCH ; 366. SHIPS .

thievery

1. the act or practice of stealing or thieving.

2. Rare. the property stolen.