Thievish: meaning, definitions and examples
🦹♂️
thievish
[ ˈθiːvɪʃ ]
character trait
Thievish refers to a disposition or behavior that is characterized by stealing or theft. It describes someone who has a propensity to take what does not belong to them, often in a sly or stealthy manner.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- His thievish nature made it hard to trust him.
- The thievish boy was caught stealing candy from the store.
- Thievish actions can lead to serious consequences.
- She had a thievish grin as she pocketed the money.
Translations
Translations of the word "thievish" in other languages:
🇵🇹 ladrão
🇮🇳 चोर
🇩🇪 diebisch
🇮🇩 pencuri
🇺🇦 крадійський
🇵🇱 złodziejsk
🇯🇵 泥棒の
🇫🇷 voleur
🇪🇸 ladrón
🇹🇷 hırsız
🇰🇷 도둑의
🇸🇦 لصوصي
🇨🇿 zlodějský
🇸🇰 zlodejský
🇨🇳 小偷的
🇸🇮 tovariški
🇮🇸 þjóflegur
🇰🇿 ұрлықшы
🇬🇪 ქურდული
🇦🇿 oğru
🇲🇽 ladrón
Etymology
The word 'thievish' comes from the Old English term 'þēof' meaning 'thief', which has its roots in the Proto-Germanic '*þiufaz'. Over the centuries, the term evolved in usage to describe not just the act of stealing but also the characteristics associated with such behavior. It suggests a more cunning or crafty type of theft, often implying a degree of cleverness or slyness in the act. The evolution of the term reflects societal attitudes towards thieves, as it attempts to encapsulate not only the act of thievery but the inherent qualities that define a person who engages in such acts. By the Middle Ages, 'thievish' was used more frequently in literature to characterize characters that embodied these traits, showing the word's long-standing place in the exploration of morality and ethics in human behavior.