larceny Hear it!

larceny definition

lar·ceny (lär′sə nē)

noun pl. larcenies -·nies

Law the taking of personal property without consent and with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of it; theft: in some states of the U.S., and formerly in England, larceny in which the value of the property equals or exceeds a specified amount is grand larceny, and larceny involving lesser amounts is petit (or petty) larceny

Etymology: ME < Anglo-Fr larcin < OFr larrecin < L latrocinium < latrocinari, to rob, plunder < latro, mercenary soldier, robber < Gr *latrōn < latron, wages, pay < IE *lēi-, to possess, acquire > OE læs, landed property

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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