Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kleptophobia” come from?

kleptophobia (English) comes from English klepto-, from Ancient Greek κλέπτης, 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.

kleptophobia (English): Abnormal fear of theft

Definitions

  1. Abnormal fear of theft

Ancestry of “kleptophobia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishklepto-theft; stealing
2Ancient Greekκλέπτηςthief; deceitful person
3Ancient GreekκλέπτωI steal, filch; I cheat; I mislead, keep secret
4Proto-Hellenicklépťōto steal
5Proto-Indo-Europeanklép-ye-ti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlep-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanklep-to steal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European klep- →