verb[with object] formal or humorous
Steal (something): he must have managed to purloin a copy of the key
More example sentences
- Their images are purloined, confiscated, appropriated, stolen.
- Were old trees being purloined, appropriated wrongfully, when they were sectioned by scientists?
- Bits of our constitution were actually purloined from the United States Constitution.
Middle English (in the sense 'put at a distance'): from Anglo-Norman French purloigner 'put away', from pur- 'forth' + loign 'far'.
- More example sentences
- I have to out myself as a purloiner of office supplies, a loafer, a personal phone call maker.