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.
But when mild morn, in saffron stole, First issues
from her eastern goal. --T. Warton.
2. (Eccl.) A narrow band of silk or stuff, sometimes enriched
with embroidery and jewels, worn on the left shoulder of
deacons, and across both shoulders of bishops and priests,
pendent on each side nearly to the ground. At Mass, it is
worn crossed on the breast by priests. It is used in
various sacred functions.
{Groom of the stole}, the first lord of the bedchamber in the
royal household. [Eng.] --Brande & C.