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Kleptomania

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a recurrent urge to steal

Where does the word "kleptomania" come from? It comes from Greek kleptēs + mania, passing through French before entering English (1830s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
kleptēs + mania
Greek · ancient
"thief-madness"
'thief' plus 'madness'
2
Stage 2 of 3
kleptomanie
French · 1800s
"compulsive stealing"
French psychiatrists coined the term in the early 1800s, replacing the Geneva doctor André Matthey's 'klopémanie' of 1816
3
Stage 3 of 3
kleptomania
English · 1830s
"compulsive stealing"
borrowed into English psychiatry
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Read the full story

Kleptomania’s story begins in Greek: kleptēs + mania meant “thief-madness.” 'thief' plus 'madness'. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as kleptomanie. French psychiatrists coined the term in the early 1800s, replacing the Geneva doctor André Matthey's 'klopémanie' of 1816. It reached English by 1830s as kleptomania. Borrowed into English psychiatry. Today, kleptomania means a recurrent urge to steal.