larcenous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   inclined to steal, or involving theft

   His larcenous search of the pantry yielded a loaf and a meat pie.

2. 2
   adj

   so unfairly expensive or grasping as to resemble theft

   Customers protested against the larcenous fees hidden in the contract.

Formed from larceny + -ous. Larceny entered English through Anglo-Norman larcin, ultimately from Latin latrocinium, 'robbery.' The figurative sense applies the language of theft to charges, bargains, or conduct judged grossly unfair.

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