Definition

1. Noun:
   • The unlawful taking and removing of another person's personal property with the intent of permanently depriving the owner of it: "Larceny" is a specific legal term for the crime of theft, typically involving the taking of tangible property without the use of force.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • He was arrested and charged with grand larceny for stealing the car.
  • The store's losses were due more to shoplifting and petty larceny than to administrative errors.

Advanced Usage

• "Grand larceny": A legal classification for theft of property exceeding a specific, legally defined value. It is a more serious felony offense.
  • The theft of the jewelry was classified as grand larceny due to its high value.
• "Petty larceny" (or petit larceny): A legal classification for theft of property below a specific, legally defined value. It is generally a misdemeanor offense.
  • Stealing a candy bar would typically be considered petty larceny.

Variants and Related Words

• Larcenist (n): A person who commits larceny; a thief.
  • The larcenist was finally caught after a series of burglaries.
• Larcenous (adj): Having the character of or involving larceny; thievish.
  • The prosecutor described the defendant's actions as larcenous.

Synonyms

• Theft: The generic term for the act of stealing.
• Stealing: The act of taking something that does not belong to you.
• Thievery: The practice of stealing; theft.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• While the legal term "larceny" itself is not commonly used in idioms, it appears in fixed legal phrases:
  • Larceny by trick: Obtaining possession of property through deception or fraud.
  • Larceny from the person: Theft directly from the victim, such as pickpocketing, without the use of force.

Noun

1. the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
   • the thieving is awful at Kennedy International