a. Originally Sc. Forms: α. 5 thiftwis, 5–6 thiftuis, 6 thiftewus. β. 6–7 thifteous, (7 thiefteous, 6 thiftius). γ. 6 thiftuus, 6–7 -uous, 7 theftous, 6– theftuous. [ME. thiftwīs, f. THEFT + WISE sb.: cf. RIGHTEOUS from rihtwís.]
1. Of the nature of theft, thievish.
c. 1400. [implied in THEFTUOUSLY].
1491. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 2. For the thiftwis owtputtin and awaytakin of the gudis. Ibid. (1502), 117/1. The thiftewus distruction of Johne Mans gudis.
1569. Reg. Privy Council Scot., II. 22. In thiftuous maner.
1593. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), IV. 43/2. Pairttakaris in thair thifteous and wicked deidis.
1678. Sir G. Mackenzie, Crim. Laws Scot., I. xx. § 3 (1699), 108. Whosoever … assists them in their theftous Stealings.
1837. B. H. Hodgson, in Jrnl. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, VI. 367. It is … remarkable … for its theftuous propensities.
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, Digest, 506. Theftuous removal of property.
b. transf. Furtive, secret, sneaking.
1881. Masson, De Quincey, xi. 138. A theftuous hope to amuse an hour for you after dinner.
2. Of the nature of a thief; given to theft.
1632. Lithgow, Trav. (1906), 363. The Hungarians have ever beene thiftuous, treacherous and false.
1859. M. Napier, Visct. Dundee, I. p. x. That theftuous animal a cheap bookseller’s hack.
1883. Century Mag., XXVII. 183. Pettily theftuous, like the English gypsies.
1885. St. James’ Gaz., 28 March, 6/1. No man ever saw the most theftuous sparrow ashamed of himself.
b. fig. Said of an animal or vegetable parasite.
1883. H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W. (ed. 2), 342. By means of its twining and theftuous roots it [Sacculina] imbibes automatically its nourishment ready-prepared from the body of the crab.
1883. R. Turner, in Gd. Words, July, 470/2. Some [plants] … living by theftuous practices alone.
