- OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries. stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW. stjäla, Dan. stiæle, Goth. stilan
- 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 beg, or borrow, thy dispense.The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in alms.
- 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.He will steal himself into a man's favor.
- To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- 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.
- 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.She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.
