2134: Lifting and Stealing Oct 18, 2020

A number of languages have a connection between words meaning 'to lift' and theft. In the case literally of 'lift' it has been suggested it might actually be related to the Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐍄𐌿𐍃 (hliftus) meaning 'theif'. If so, it would have a connection to the Latin 'cleptus' (Greek κλέπτω (kléptō)), or in other words the same root as 'cleptomaniac'. Indeed the Greek has a far more general meaning including not only theft per se but also cheating and disguising.

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