Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Steal \Steal\, v. t. [imp. {Stole}; p. p. {Stolen}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Stealing}.] [OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries.
   stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW.
   stj["a]la, Dan. sti[ae]le, Goth. stilan.]
   1. To take and carry away, feloniously; to take without right
      or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal
      the personal goods of another.

            Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal,
            or borrow, thy dispense.              --Chaucer.

            The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets
            in ?lms.                              --G. Eliot.

   2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to
      creep furtively, or to insinuate.

            They could insinuate and steal themselves under the
            same by their humble carriage and submission.
                                                  --Spenser.

            He will steal himself into a man's favor. --Shak.

   3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.

            So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
                                                  --2 Sam. xv.
                                                  6.

   4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible
      degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and
      imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.

            Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the
            mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. --I.
                                                  Watts.

   5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try
      to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.

            Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course,
            profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal
            it.                                   --Bacon.

   {To steal a march}, to march in a covert way; to gain an
      advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now
      by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march
      upon one's political rivals.

            She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
                                                  --Smollett.

            Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over
            the sea.                              --Walpole.

   Syn: To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.