Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
STEAL
I. verb (stole; stolen; stealing)
Etymology: Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal Date: before 12th century intransitive verb to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice, to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly, to steal or attempt to steal a base, transitive verb
1. to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully , to take away by force or unjust means , to take surreptitiously or without permission , to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share ; make oneself the focus of ,
2. to move, convey, or introduce secretly ; smuggle , to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner ,
3. to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring , to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usually catching the opposing team off guard, stealable adjective stealer noun Synonyms: see: steal
II. noun
Date: circa 1825
the act or an instance of stealing, a fraudulent or questionable political deal, bargain 2