purloin

verb

Etymology: From Middle English purloynen (“to remove”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman purloigner (“to put far away”), one of the variants of Old French porloignier. Doublet of prolong.

1. To take the property of another, often in breach of trust; to appropriate wrongfully; to steal.

   “Had from his wakeful custody purloined / The guarded gold.”

   “Probably my acquaintance, Mr Blank, therefore, would have been able, if he had so wished to do, to purloin the papers which he mentioned.”

2. To commit theft; to thieve.

   “The Apostle expressly forbiddeth servants to purloin (Titus 2:10).”