Purloin
verb
To steal something, especially something of small value.
He was caught purloining office supplies.
Often appears as...
- purloin from
- purloin something
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To steal something, especially something of small value.
He was caught purloining office supplies.
Often appears as...
- purloin from
- purloin something
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Theft
Use 'purloin' when referring to stealing things that aren't very valuable.
She playfully purloined her friend's pen.
Pro Tip 2/3Sneaky Implication
'Purloin' implies that the theft was sly or secretive, not forceful.
He purloined a cookie from the jar while no one was looking.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Usage
'Purloin' is often used in literature for a humorous or light-hearted tone.
In the novel, the character purloined a love letter for a peek at its contents.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Theft
Use 'purloin' when referring to stealing things that aren't very valuable.
She playfully purloined her friend's pen.
Pro Tip 2/3Sneaky Implication
'Purloin' implies that the theft was sly or secretive, not forceful.
He purloined a cookie from the jar while no one was looking.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Usage
'Purloin' is often used in literature for a humorous or light-hearted tone.
In the novel, the character purloined a love letter for a peek at its contents.
Pro Tip 1/3Slight Theft
Use 'purloin' when referring to stealing things that aren't very valuable.
She playfully purloined her friend's pen.
Pro Tip 2/3Sneaky Implication
'Purloin' implies that the theft was sly or secretive, not forceful.
He purloined a cookie from the jar while no one was looking.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Usage
'Purloin' is often used in literature for a humorous or light-hearted tone.
In the novel, the character purloined a love letter for a peek at its contents.
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Video examples
The punishable perils of...
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
Video examples
JAWS vs. CLAWS PIPE...
so far so good he's grabbed his purloined sambar without getting attacked now comes the hard part the
Video examples
The punishable perils of...
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
Video examples
JAWS vs. CLAWS PIPE...
so far so good he's grabbed his purloined sambar without getting attacked now comes the hard part the
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Scott Stossel
American Journalist
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.
Quote examples
Elvis Mitchell
American Critic
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.
Quote examples
Eric Schneiderman
American Politician
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.
Quote examples
Craig Brown
English Critic
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.
Quote examples
Ricky Jay
American Actor
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.
Quote examples
Jacques Lacan
French Psychologist
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.
Quote examples
Jacques Lacan
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.
Quote examples
Scott Stossel
American Journalist
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.
Quote examples
Elvis Mitchell
American Critic
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.
Quote examples
Eric Schneiderman
American Politician
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.
Quote examples
Craig Brown
English Critic
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.
Quote examples
Ricky Jay
American Actor
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.
Quote examples
Jacques Lacan
French Psychologist
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.
Quote examples
Jacques Lacan
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.
Example 1 of 7
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