An archaic term meaning to steal or rob, particularly with the prefix 'for-' indicating completion or excess of the action.
From Old English 'for-' (thoroughly) + 'steal.' The prefix intensified the verb, suggesting complete or egregious theft rather than minor taking.
Old English used 'for-' to show degree—'forsteal' was like saying 'totally stole' or 'stole big'—a way to emphasize without separate adverbs, much like English speakers today say 'he *straight up* stole it.'
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