burglarize

English

Alternative forms

• burglarise (uncommon)

Etymology

burglar +‎ -ize (1829)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɜː(ɹ)ɡləɹaɪz/

Verb

burglarize (third-person singular simple present burglarizes, present participle burglarizing, simple past and past participle burglarized)

1. (transitive, intransitive, chiefly Canada, US) To commit burglary. [from 1829]

   Synonym: burgle

   • 1829 July 5, [ William Hazlitt ?], “The Advantages of Committing Burglary in cuerpo Elucidated”, in The Atlas‎^[1], London, page 442:

     People who would now attempt to burglarize in top-boots, would be as mad as if they were to adopt that costume for picking pockets.

   • 1839 December 7, "Mustard-Seed", “To Sir Charles Shaw, K. C. T. S., &c., &c.”, in Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser‎^[2], Manchester, page 6:

     [M]en exclaim against you as the most bungling of "cabbagers" ... that ever burglarised upon the property of Shakespeare!

   • 1840 May 1, "Shamrock", “Steeple-Chasing in Ireland”, in The Sporting Review‎^[3], London, page 364:

     In this dilemma there were but two resources open to the infuriated stewards, -- one to carry the key vi et armis; the other, to burglarize the cellar.

   • 1856 November 1, Louisville Daily Courier‎^[4], Louisville, KY, page 3:

     Deaseley Brothers & Dodge, wholesale dry goods store, was burglarized last night, and three thousand dollars worth of silks taken. No arrests.

   • 1856 December 16, "The London Scoundrel", “A Plea for the Gallows (Letter to the Editor)”, in The Times‎^[5], London, page 10:

     I also told you my house had been thoroughly burglarized three times,

   • 1865 September, Upper Canada Law Journal‎^[6], Toronto, page 228:

     We see in a telegraphic despatch from across the boundary line that a store was "burglarized" a short time ago.

   • 1872, M. Schele De Vere, Americanisms: The English of the New World‎^[7], New York: Charles Scribner, page 587:

     Burglarize, to, a term creeping into journalism. ... The word has a dangerous rival in the shorter burgle.

   • 1903 March 31, “From Day To Day”, in The Express and Telegraph‎^[8], Adelaide, page 1:

     During a recent burglary epidemic a police superintendent one night made a tour of inspection through the burglarised district.

   • 1922, Victor Appleton, chapter 9, in Tom Swift And His Electric Locomotive‎^[9], New York: Grossett and Dunlap, page 82:

     This attempt to burglarize the house betrayed the caliber of the enemy.

   • 2007 December 14, Robert Muirhead, “Man sent to prison for robbing woman at gunpoint”, in Journal Inquirer.com‎^[10], Connecticut, page 228:

     Police said they believed the woman interrupted Harvey as he attempted to burglarize nearby cars.

Related terms

• burglar
• burglary
• cat-burglarize

See also

• burgle
• rob
• steal
• thieve