purloin

verb

pur·loin (ˌ)pər-ˈlȯin How to pronounce purloin (audio)

ˈpər-ˌlȯin

purloined; purloining; purloins

transitive verb

: to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust

purloiner noun

Did you know?

The word purloin features in the title of a famous Edgar Allan Poe story in its past tense form: "The Purloined Letter" was included in Poe's 1845 Tales, and involves the search for a letter that a cabinet minister has stolen and is now using to blackmail the rightful owner, an unnamed woman of royalty. When Poe opted for purloin for his story, he was employing a term in use since the 15th century with the meaning "to put away; to inappropriately take or make use of." The word had earlier use, now obsolete, with the meaning "to set aside; to render inoperative or ineffectual," a meaning that links more clearly to the word's Anglo-French origin: purluigner means "to prolong, postpone, set aside," and comes from pur-, meaning "forward," and luin, loing, meaning "at a distance." Its ultimate root is Latin longus, long, meaning "long."

Example Sentences

the studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale

Recent Examples on the Web Digital technology has allowed such leakers as Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning to purloin much vaster reams of data with significantly greater ease.

Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Our plan to purloin dogecoin to purchase purifiers pursuant to our planetary progression terminates.

Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 7 May 2021 Once some viruses had evolved ways of writing and copying DNA, their hosts would have been able to purloin them in order to make back-up copies of their RNA molecules.

The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020 Federal prosecutors now say China used the program to purloin sensitive technology.

Penn Bullock, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2020 Police say further investigation revealed the individuals had purloined the paper products — which are a scarce commodity amid the coronavirus pandemic — and the linens from a maid’s cart at a nearby hotel.

Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2020 Notwithstanding the belief of over 60 percent of Democrats, precipitated by breathless and often misleading media coverage, not one vote was altered by Putin, nor was a single person’s free will purloined by a Russian Twitter bot or Facebook ad.

David Harsanyi, National Review, 20 Nov. 2019 Ronald Reagan insisted his glossy locks were naturally brown and claimed that reporters had purloined clippings from his barber's floor to prove him wrong.

Author: Roxanne Roberts, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Nov. 2019 Ronald Reagan insisted his glossy locks were naturally brown and claimed that reporters had purloined clippings from his barber’s floor to prove him wrong.

Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2019 See More

单词	purloins
释义	purloin verb pur·loin (ˌ)pər-ˈlȯin ˈpər-ˌlȯin purloined; purloining; purloins transitive verb : to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust purloiner noun Did you know? The word purloin features in the title of a famous Edgar Allan Poe story in its past tense form: "The Purloined Letter" was included in Poe's 1845 Tales, and involves the search for a letter that a cabinet minister has stolen and is now using to blackmail the rightful owner, an unnamed woman of royalty. When Poe opted for purloin for his story, he was employing a term in use since the 15th century with the meaning "to put away; to inappropriately take or make use of." The word had earlier use, now obsolete, with the meaning "to set aside; to render inoperative or ineffectual," a meaning that links more clearly to the word's Anglo-French origin: purluigner means "to prolong, postpone, set aside," and comes from pur-, meaning "forward," and luin, loing, meaning "at a distance." Its ultimate root is Latin longus, long, meaning "long." Synonyms appropriate boost [slang] filch heist hook lift misappropriate nick [British slang] nip pilfer pinch pocket rip off snitch steal swipe thieve See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences the studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale Recent Examples on the Web Digital technology has allowed such leakers as Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning to purloin much vaster reams of data with significantly greater ease. Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Our plan to purloin dogecoin to purchase purifiers pursuant to our planetary progression terminates. Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 7 May 2021 Once some viruses had evolved ways of writing and copying DNA, their hosts would have been able to purloin them in order to make back-up copies of their RNA molecules. The Economist, 20 Aug. 2020 Federal prosecutors now say China used the program to purloin sensitive technology. Penn Bullock, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2020 Police say further investigation revealed the individuals had purloined the paper products — which are a scarce commodity amid the coronavirus pandemic — and the linens from a maid’s cart at a nearby hotel. Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2020 Notwithstanding the belief of over 60 percent of Democrats, precipitated by breathless and often misleading media coverage, not one vote was altered by Putin, nor was a single person’s free will purloined by a Russian Twitter bot or Facebook ad. David Harsanyi, National Review, 20 Nov. 2019 Ronald Reagan insisted his glossy locks were naturally brown and claimed that reporters had purloined clippings from his barber's floor to prove him wrong. Author: Roxanne Roberts, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Nov. 2019 Ronald Reagan insisted his glossy locks were naturally brown and claimed that reporters had purloined clippings from his barber’s floor to prove him wrong. Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2019 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, to put away, misappropriate, from Anglo-French purluigner to prolong, postpone, set aside, from pur- forward + luin, loing at a distance, from Latin longe, from longus long — more at purchase entry 1, long First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined above Legal Definition purloin transitive verb pur·loin pər-ˈlȯin, ˈpər-ˌlȯin : steal purloins verb present tense third-person singular of purloin as in steals to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep the studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance steals filches swipes pilfers grabs snatches lifts appropriates robs thieves misappropriates pockets hooks pinches snitches nips hijacks heists plunders nicks pillages rips off takes loots shoplifts boosts walks off with picks sacks seizes burglarizes poaches runs off with highjacks kidnaps makes away with makes off with rustles abducts carjacks rifles shanghais grasps knocks over mooches nails collars sponges spirits Antonyms & Near Antonyms buys gives presents contributes bestows purchases donates hands over See More
随便看	prolixxer prolixxest prolobous prolocula proloculi proloculum proloculus prolocution prolocutions prolocutor prolocutors prolocutorship prolocutorships prolocutrixes prolog prologed prologi prologing prologise prologised prologises prologising prologist prologize prologized

purloin

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb