latrociny

L1A1T1R1O1C3I1N1Y4

noun

Theft or robbery.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

nounlatrociny (usually uncountable, plural latrocinies)

plural latrocinies

  1. obsoleteuncountableusuallyTheft or robbery.

    There are yet one or two instances of this cunning latrociny which occurs to us as too rich not be noted.

    1845, The American Whig review, volume 1, Wiley and Putnam, page 273
    2 more examples

    Of all thefts, I think literary latrociny the least to be excused; and if I had the drawing up of a new penal code, I would certainly make plagiary death, (ay, outright death,) without the benefit of clergy.

    1832, W H. Armstrong, The poetic negligée, by Caleb,, page 138

    The whole civil power was lodged in such hands as had secret instructions from court to vex and ill treat the Israelites; and when matters were come to crisis, that oppression ruled, and the government was turned into a mere latrociny, private force upon any proper occasion, must be deemed lawful in all […]

    1836, Daniel Dewar, A history of the holy Bible, with an intr., additional notes and dissertations, and a complete index by D. Dewar,, page 250

Origin

  1. Latinlatrōcinium“highway robbery”
  2. Englishlatrociny

From Latin latrōcinium (“highway robbery”), from latrōcinor, from latrō (“brigand, robber, mercenary”) + -cinor (“verbal suffix”). Doublet of larceny.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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