thief

From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from Old English þēof, from Proto-Germanic *þeubaz. Spelling from Northern England, where /eːo/ became [iə] rather than [eː]. (Compare p.e. the spelling of deep from Old English deop.)

• (UK, US) enPR: thēf, IPA^(key): /θiːf/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːf

thief (plural thieves)

1. One who carries out a theft.
   • Shakespeare

     [...] water-thieves and land-thieves

2. One who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.
3. (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hall to this entry?)

• (one who carries out a theft): See Thesaurus:thief

• (one who carries out a theft): See Thesaurus:criminal

• thieve

• feith, theif