thief

Pronunciation: /θif/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it

Etymology

From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from Old English þēof, from Proto-West Germanic *þeub, from Proto-Germanic *þeubaz.

In classic literature

Synonyms

stealer

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
criminal
Narrower (hyponyms)
snatcher, bandit, burglar, rustler, safebreaker, graverobber

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