Steal — Defs

01 n. A handle; a stale, or stele.

1.
A handle; a stale, or stele.[Archaic or Prov. Eng.]
“And in his hand a huge poleax did bear. Whose steale was iron-studded but not long.” — Spenser.

02 v. t. To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods o…

imp. Stole; p. p. Stolen; p. pr. & vb. n. Stealing

1.
To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another.
“Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.” — Chaucer.

“The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in alms.” — G. Eliot.
2.
To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate.
“They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission.” — Spenser.

“He will steal himself into a man's favor.” — Shak.
3.
To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
“So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” — 2 Sam. xv. 6.
4.
To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.
“Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject.” — I. Watts.
5.
To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
“Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it.” — Bacon.

“She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.” — Smollett.

“Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.” — Walpole.

Phrases & compounds

To steal a march — to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march upon one's political rivals.

Syn. To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.

03 v. i. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.

1.
To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or theft.
“Thou shalt not steal.” — Ex. xx. 15.
2.
To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away, unperceived; to go or come furtively.
“Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly all company, one night she stole away.” — Sir P. Sidney.

“From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.” — Shak.

“A soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam of rich, distilled perfumes, And stole upon the air.” — Milton.