DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Steal v. t. [imp. Stole p. p. Stolen p. pr. & vb. n. Stealing.]
 1. To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal the personal goods of another.
 Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence
 Or steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.   --Chaucer.
    The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets in alms.   --G. Eliot.
 2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to creep furtively, or to insinuate.
    They could insinuate and steal themselves under the same by their humble carriage and submission.   --Spenser.
    He will steal himself into a man's favor.   --Shak.
 3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
    So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.   --2 Sam. xv. 6.
 4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.
    Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the mind from its steady pursuit of any subject.   --I. Watts.
 5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
    Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal it.   --Bacon.
 To steal a march, to march in a covert way; to gain an advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march upon one's political rivals.
    She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.   --Smollett.
    Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over the sea.   --Walpole.
 Syn: -- To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.