Hypertext Webster Gateway: "steal"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Steal \Steal\, n. [See {Stale} a handle.]
A handle; a stale, or stele. [Archaic or Prov. Eng.]

And in his hand a huge poleax did bear. Whose steale
was iron-studded but not long. --Spenser.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Steal \Steal\, v. t. [imp. {Stole}; p. p. {Stolen}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Stealing}.] [OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries.
stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW.
stj["a]la, Dan. sti[ae]le, Goth. stilan.]
1. To take and carry away, feloniously; to take without right
or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal
the personal goods of another.

Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal,
or borrow, thy dispense. --Chaucer.

The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets
in ?lms. --G. Eliot.

2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to
creep furtively, or to insinuate.

They could insinuate and steal themselves under the
same by their humble carriage and submission.
--Spenser.

He will steal himself into a man's favor. --Shak.

3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.

So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
--2 Sam. xv.
6.

4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible
degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and
imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.

Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the
mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. --I.
Watts.

5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try
to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.

Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course,
profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal
it. --Bacon.

{To steal a march}, to march in a covert way; to gain an
advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now
by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march
upon one's political rivals.

She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
--Smollett.

Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over
the sea. --Walpole.

Syn: To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Steal \Steal\, v. i.
1. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or
theft.

Thou shalt not steal. --Ex. xx. 15.

2. To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away,
unperceived; to go or come furtively. --Chaucer.

Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly
all company, one night she stole away. --Sir P.
Sidney.

From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.
--Shak.

A soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam
of rich, distilled perfumes, And stole upon the air.
--Milton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Stale \Stale\, n. [OE. stale, stele, AS. st[ae]l, stel; akin to
LG. & D. steel, G. stiel; cf. L. stilus stake, stalk, stem,
Gr. ? a handle, and E. stall, stalk, n.]
The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake.
[Written also {steal}, {stele}, etc.]

But seeling the arrow's stale without, and that the
head did go No further than it might be seen.
--Chapman.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

steal
n : an advantageous purchase; "she got a bargain at the
auction"; "the stock was a real buy at that price" [syn:
{bargain}, {buy}]
v 1: take without the owner's consent; "Someone stole my wallet
on the train"; "This author stole entire paragraphs from
my dissertation"
2: move stealthily; "The ship slipped away in the darkness"
[syn: {slip}]
3: steal a base, in baseball
4: to go stealthily or furtively: "..stead of sneaking around
spying on the neighbor's house" [syn: {sneak}, {mouse}, {creep},
{pussyfoot}]


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