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In Celtic mythology, stoats were seen as prone to mischief and thieving.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026 Robots thieving from a haunted planet under the watch of a collection of insane AIs and alien gods?—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
15 Mar. 2026 The emotional stakes — which also involve a thieving street urchin (Baltasar Espinach) the De la Vegas adopt — are real.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026 The Epic of Gilgamesh, composed about 4,000 years ago, follows a king who searches the world for a plant that can restore youth, only to lose the plant to a thieving snake.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thieve
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of thieve was
before the 12th century