Scott Stossel

I don't want to be in a position that could make me vomit, like air travel. I've purloined airsick bags and stuffed them everywhere, just in case I ever feel the need to throw up. I haven't vomited since 1977, but I think about it all the time. I recognize that it's irrational, but I'd rather jump out of a window than vomit.

American Journalist

Elvis Mitchell

In 2013, when it turned out that the plot of LaBeouf's short film 'HowardCantour.com' (2012) had been purloined from graphic novelist Daniel Clowes's 2007 comic 'Justin M. Damiano', the actor-director responded with a series of tweet apologies that also appeared to be shoplifted.

American Critic

Eric Schneiderman

A factory-installed security measure - one that phone owners would have to opt out of, rather than opting in - could automatically render purloined devices inoperable on any network, anywhere in the world. No resale value, no thefts.

American Politician

Craig Brown

Like the firm handshake and looking people straight in the eye, the blazer had originally been a symbol of trust. Because of this, it had been purloined by the less-than-trustworthy and became their preferred disguise.

English Critic

Ricky Jay

Theft annoys me more than anything else. The purloining of effects from another magician. Some people think it's massive to steal the secrets of nuclear reactors, but to steal a card move is trivial. They're wrong.

American Actor

Jacques Lacan

Which is why we cannot say of the purloined letter that, like other objects, it must be or not be in a particular place but that unlike them it will be and not be where it is, wherever it goes.

French Psychologist

Writings scatter to the winds blank checks in an insane charge. And were they not such flying leaves, there would be no purloined letters.

Use 'purloin' when referring to stealing things that aren't very valuable.

Slight Theft

'Purloin' implies that the theft was sly or secretive, not forceful.

Sneaky Implication

'Purloin' is often used in literature for a humorous or light-hearted tone.

Literary Usage

 Welcome to the Department of Plagiarism Investigation. The D.P.I. has dealt with numerous complex cases in their effort to bring plagiarists to justice and to rescue purloined texts. The first form of plagiarism that the D.P.I. regularly encounters

The punishable perils of...

 so far so good he's grabbed his purloined sambar without getting attacked now comes the hard part the

Purloin

To steal something, especially something of small value.

Often appears as...

Usage tips

Slight Theft

Sneaky Implication

Literary Usage

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