clepto-

prefix

stealing, theft

OriginLatin clepto- ← Ancient Greek κλέπτης ← Proto-Indo-European *klep- →
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Meanings

prefix

alternative klepto-

  1. stealing, theft

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*klep-“to steal”
  2. Ancient Greekκλέπτης“thief”
  3. Latinclepto-
  4. Englishclepto-

Borrowed from Latin clepto-, a combining form of Ancient Greek κλέπτης (kléptēs, “thief”), κλέπτω (kléptō, “to steal”), from Proto-Indo-European *klep- (“to steal”). Doublet of klepto-.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek, Proto-Indo-European

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

clepto-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clepto-

MLA

“clepto-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clepto-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clepto-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clepto-.

Source: clepto- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.