larceny
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:
- larcenist lar′·cenist noun or larcener lar′·cener
- larcenous lar′·cenous adjective
- larcenously lar′·cenous·ly adverb
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