latrociny

English

Noun

latrociny (usually uncountable, plural latrocinies)

  1. (obsolete) Theft or robbery.
    • 1832, W H. Armstrong, The poetic negligée, by Caleb,, page 138:
      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.
    • 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:
      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 []
    • 1845, The American Whig review, volume 1, Wiley and Putnam, page 273:
      There are yet one or two instances of this cunning latrociny which occurs to us as too rich not be noted.
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