Burglarizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The illegal act of entering a property with the goal of stealing items of value involves breaching security to commit theft
2. This criminal behavior signifies unlawfully accessing a location to take possessions without permission, often using force
3. Gaining unauthorized entry into a building to take belongings without consent

Etymology: "Burglarizing" is the present participle and gerund of "burglarize," a verb built from "burglar" plus the suffix "-ize," which dates to 1829. The noun "burglar" came first, and the verb followed it into use, so the sequence of formation runs from person to action: a burglar was someone who committed the crime, and burglarize meant to commit that crime against a place. The suffix "-ize," borrowed from Greek through Latin and French, is a common way English turns a noun into a verb meaning "to act upon or treat in the manner of." Its use here is entirely ordinary, which is why the verb feels so natural: English speakers had already used "-ize" to create words like "criticize" and "victimize" before "burglarize" appeared.

Synonyms: burglary, theft, robbery, breaking and entering, intrusion

Antonyms: security, safety