Biblioklept

/ˈbɪbliəˌklɛpt/ noun

Definition

A person who compulsively steals books, driven by an irresistible urge rather than profit; a book thief with pathological behavior.

Etymology

From biblio- (Greek biblion 'book') + klept (Greek kleptes 'thief'). This variant spelling emerged alongside bibliokleptomania in the 19th century as psychology began categorizing compulsive behaviors.

Kelly Says

Unlike regular book thieves motivated by money, biblioklepts often steal books they don't even read—it's the stealing itself that's compulsive, more about the disorder than the book.

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