verb
purloin
Purloin (verb) means (formal) To steal something, often by betraying someone's trust.
verb
1
(formal) To steal something, often by betraying someone's trust.
"Probably my acquaintance, Mr Blank, therefore, would have been able, if he had so wished to do, to purloin the papers which he mentioned."
— One Who Was in It (1900)
2
(formal) To steal.
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Etymology
Comes from Middle English purloynen ("to remove"), which was borrowed from Anglo-Norman purloigner ("to put far away"), one of the variants of Old French porloignier. It is a doublet of prolong.
Related words
Rhymes for purloin
See all rhymes for purloin →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of purloin?
"purloin" (verb) means (formal) To steal something, often by betraying someone's trust.
What is another word for purloin?
Other words for "purloin" include hook, filch, lift, pinch, abstract, cabbage.
What are the different meanings of purloin?
"purloin" has 2 main meanings: 1. (formal) To steal something, often by betraying someone's trust; 2. (formal) To steal.
