First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
larceny
noun lar·ce·ny \-nē, -sə-nē\
law : the act of stealing something
plural lar·ce·nies
Full Definition of LARCENY
: the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently
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Origin of LARCENY
Middle English, from Anglo-French larecin theft, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, probably from Greek *latrōn, from latron pay
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LARCENY Defined for Kids
larceny
noun lar·ce·ny \ˈlär-sə-nē\
plural lar·ce·nies
Definition of LARCENY for Kids
: the unlawful taking of personal property without the owner's consent : theft
Word History of LARCENY
In Latin, the language of ancient Rome, the word latro referred to a soldier who fought for pay rather than from a sense of duty. Because such soldiers had a poor reputation, the meaning of the word came to be “robber” or “bandit,” and the word derived from it, latrocinium, meant “act of robbery.” Latrocinium became larecin, “theft,” in medieval French, and this word was borrowed into English as larceny.
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