tr.v. pur·loined, pur·loin·ing, pur·loins To steal, especially in a stealthy way. See Synonyms at steal. [Middle English purloinen, to remove, entice (a person) away, carry off (valuables), from Anglo-Norman purloigner, to delay, prolong, set aside : pur-, away (from Latin prō-; see PRO-1) + loign, far (from Latin longē, from longus, long; see del-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] pur·loiner n. |
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