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Added 10 October 2026

larceny

/ˈlɑː.sən.i/ noun

Latin root: latrocinium Coined: 1425 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about larceny at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The unlawful taking of personal property as an attempt to deprive the legal owner of it permanently. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
An individual instance of such a taking.
That young man already has four assaults, a DUI, and a larceny on his record.

Origin

Coined in Middle English (as larceni) between 1425 and 1475 from Anglo-Norman larcin (“theft”), from Latin latrocinium (“robbery”), from latro (“robber, mercenary”), from Ancient Greek λάτρον (látron, “pay, hire”). Doublet of latrociny.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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