Representing a combining form of Ancient Greek κλέπτης (kléptēs, “thief”), κλέπτω (kléptō, “steal”), from Proto-Indo-European *klep- (“to steal”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐌰𐌽 (hlifan, “to steal”), Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌹𐍆𐍄𐌿𐍃 (hliftus, “thief”).
klepto-
