theftuous

English

Alternative forms

• thiefteous, thefteous
• thiftwis, thiftwise, thifteous, thiftous, thefteous (Scotland)

Etymology

From earlier thiefteous, thiftwis, from Middle English *theftwis, equivalent to theft +‎ -wise. Compare righteous.

Adjective

theftuous (comparative more theftuous, superlative most theftuous)

1. Of the nature of theft; thievish.
   • 1851, Philomathos, “Ought Government to Provide a Secular Education For the People?”, in The British Controversialist: And Literary Magazine, number 13, page 351:

     This is an Education which consists in the outleading of the blackguardizing, pauperizing, vagrant-like, and theftuous elements of the mentality, entirely withdrawn, and apart from any moral guidance, any elevating tendency, any ameliorating influence, nay, directly under the direction of the demoralized and the abandoned.

Derived terms

• theftuously