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larceny

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:40 pm
by eberntson
: the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

Origin

Middle English, from Anglo-French larecin theft, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, probably from Greek *latrōn, from latron pay
First Known Use: 15th century

Re: larceny

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:20 pm
by Slava
OK, I admit it, I have been slow here. Why has it taken me over 7 months to twig to the connection of larceny and mercenary? :oops:

Tying in to mercenary is merchant, and with a root of mercēd, where does that leave the car?

It's great how word histories interweave.

Re: larceny

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:16 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Not sure the English words larceny and mercenary are connected. But I am pretty sure ladron is Spanish for thief.

Re: larceny

Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:32 pm
by Slava
Not sure the English words larceny and mercenary are connected. But I am pretty sure ladron is Spanish for thief.
mid-15c., from Anglo-Fr. larcin (late 13c.), from O.Fr. larrecin "theft," from L. latrocinium "robbery," from latro (gen. latronis) "robber, bandit," also "hireling, mercenary,"
There is more, but this is the relevant part.

Re: larceny

Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:42 pm
by Perry Lassiter
Mercenary is a translation from latro, not a derivation.

Re: larceny

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:50 am
by Philip Hudson
Perry: Yep.