Larceny definition
The unlawful taking and removing of another's personal property with the intent of permanently depriving the owner; theft.
noun
Larceny is defined as the theft of personal property.
When someone steals your wallet, this act is an example of larceny.
noun
(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.
noun
The wrongful appropriation of personal property with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of its possession and use.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
larceny
Plural:
larceniesOrigin of larceny
- Middle English from Anglo-Norman larcin theft from Latin latrōcinium robbery from latrō robber, mercenary ultimately from Greek latron pay, hire
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Coined between 1425 and 1475 from Anglo-Norman larcin (“theft"), from Latin latrocinium (“robbery"), from latro (“robber, mercenary"), from Ancient Greek λάτρον (latron, “pay, hire")
From Wiktionary