Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thieving” come from?

Thieving derives from Middle English theven, from Old English ġeþīefian, meaning to steal.

thieving (English): present participle of thieve; That thieves; that...

Definitions

  1. present participle of thieve; That thieves; that...

Ancestry of “thieving”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthieveTo commit theft
2Middle Englishtheven—
3Old Englishþēofian—

Words derived from “thieving”

  • thievingly
Every word from Old English þēofian →