King James Bible Dictionary

THIEF, noun plural thieves.

1. One who secretly, unlawfully and feloniously takes the goods or personal property of another. The thief takes the property of another privately; the robber by open force.

2. One who takes the property of another wrongfully, either secretly or by violence. Job 30:5.

3. One who seduces by false doctrine. John 10:1.

4. One who makes it his business to cheat and defraud; as a den of thieves. Matthew 21:1.

5. An excrescence in the snuff of a candle.

THIE'F-CATCHER, noun [thief and catch.] One who catches thieves, or whose business is to detect thieves and bring them to justice.

THIE'F-LEADER, noun [thief and lead.] One who leads or takes a thief. [Not much used.]

THIE'F-TAKER, noun [thief and taker.] One whose business is to find and take thieves and bring them to justice.