English

kleptomania

Kleptomania comes from Ancient Greek κλέπτω ‘to steal’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *klep-.

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*klep-‘to steal’reconstructed
Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*klép-ye-tireconstructed
Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκλέπτωkléptō‘to steal’
Englishtodaykleptomania

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*klep-‘to steal’reconstructed
Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*klép-ye-tireconstructed
Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκλέπτωkléptō‘to steal’
Englishtodaykleptomania

Formed from klepto- + -mania

Proto-Indo-European *klep- ‘to steal’

Ancient Greek κλέπτης ‘thief’

English klepto-

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *klep- ‘to steal’

cyclops, 2 more

Today it means

noun A psychological disorder that causes an uncontrollable obsession with stealing without economic or material need.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *klep- / kleptomania

Shirt and support for this word