\Steal\, n. [See {Stale} a handle.]
A handle; a stale, or stele. [Archaic or Prov. Eng.]
      And in his hand a huge poleax did bear. Whose steale
      was iron-studded but not long.           --Spenser.

\Steal\, v. t. [imp. {Stole}; p. p. {Stolen}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Stealing}.] [OE. stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries.
stela, D. stelen, OHG. stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW.
stj["a]la, Dan. sti[ae]le, Goth. stilan.]
1. To take and carry away, feloniously; to take without right
   or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to steal
   the personal goods of another.
         Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence Or steal,
         or borrow, thy dispense.              --Chaucer.
         The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets
         in ?lms.                              --G. Eliot.
2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to
   creep furtively, or to insinuate.
         They could insinuate and steal themselves under the
         same by their humble carriage and submission.
                                               --Spenser.
         He will steal himself into a man's favor. --Shak.
3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
         So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
                                               --2 Sam. xv.
                                               6.
4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible
   degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and
   imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.
         Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the
         mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. --I.
                                               Watts.
5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try
   to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
         Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course,
         profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal
         it.                                   --Bacon.
{To steal a march}, to march in a covert way; to gain an
   advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now
   by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march
   upon one's political rivals.
         She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
                                               --Smollett.
         Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over
         the sea.                              --Walpole.
Syn: To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.

\Steal\, v. i.
1. To practice, or be guilty of, theft; to commit larceny or
   theft.
         Thou shalt not steal.                 --Ex. xx. 15.
2. To withdraw, or pass privily; to slip in, along, or away,
   unperceived; to go or come furtively. --Chaucer.
         Fixed of mind to avoid further entreaty, and to fly
         all company, one night she stole away. --Sir P.
                                               Sidney.
         From whom you now must steal, and take no leave.
                                               --Shak.
         A soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam
         of rich, distilled perfumes, And stole upon the air.
                                               --Milton.