Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kleptomaniac” come from?

kleptomaniac (English) comes from Ancient Greek κλέπτω, from Proto-Hellenic klépťō, from Proto-Indo-European klép-ye-ti, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlep-, from Proto-Indo-European klep- — to steal.

kleptomaniac (English): One who steals compulsively

Definitions

  1. One who steals compulsively

Ancestry of “kleptomaniac”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekκλέπτωI steal, filch; I cheat; I mislead, keep secret
2Proto-Hellenicklépťōto steal
3Proto-Indo-Europeanklép-ye-ti—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlep-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanklep-to steal

Words derived from “kleptomaniac”

  • kleptomaniacal
  • kleptomaniacally
Every word from Proto-Indo-European klep- →