different between thief vs mainor

English

Alternative forms

• theef

Etymology

From Middle English thef, theef, þef, from Old English þ?of, from Proto-Germanic *þeubaz. Spelling from Northern England, where /e?o/ became [i?] rather than [e?]. (Compare the spelling of deep from Old English deop.)

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: th?f, IPA^(key): /?i?f/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?if/
• Rhymes: -i?f

Noun

thief (plural thieves)

1. One who carries out a theft.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:thief
2. One who steals another person's property, especially by stealth and without using force or violence.
3. (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
   • 1640, Joseph Hall, Divine Light

     But hear you , my Worthy Brethren : do not you , where you see a thief in the candle , call presently for an extinguisher

Hypernyms

• (one who carries out a theft): See Thesaurus:criminal

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Related terms

• thieve

Translations

Anagrams

• feith, theif

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman meinoure, Old French manuevre. See maneuver and French main (“hand”).

Noun

mainor (plural mainors)

1. (law, Britain, obsolete) The act or fact, especially of theft.
2. (law, Britain, obsolete) A stolen article found on the person of the thief.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bouvier to this entry?)

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Wharton to this entry?)

Usage notes

• A thief was said to be "taken with the mainor" when he was taken with the thing stolen upon him, i.e. in his hands.

Anagrams

• A minor, A-minor, Marion, Morian, Romani, Romina, in mora, inamor, manoir, roamin'