English
Alternative forms
- burglarise (suggested as an alternative form, although the origin and current use of this alternative form is uncertain, this alternative form is not common in either US or UK English. This spelling is not commonly used in North America. Whilst the -ise- ending of this alternative form may suggest that it is used in UK English, this is not correct, neither 'burglarize' nor 'burglarise' are commonly used in the UK, where 'burgle' would be the correct term to use and is equivalent to the US 'burglarize'.)
Verb
burglarize (third-person singular simple present burglarizes, present participle burglarizing, simple past and past participle burglarized)
- (chiefly Canada, US) To commit burglary.
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1829 July 5, [ William Hazlitt ?], “The Advantages of Committing Burglary in cuerpo Elucidated”, in The Atlas, 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.
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1856 November 1, Louisville Daily Courier, 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.
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1856 December 16, "The London Scoundrel", “A Plea for the Gallows (Letter to the Editor)”, in The Times, London, page 10:- I also told you my house had been thoroughly burglarized three times,
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1865 September 1, Upper Canada Law Journal, Toronto, page 228:- We see in a telegraphic despatch from across the boundary line that a store was "burglarized" a short time ago.
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1872, M. Schele De Vere, Americanisms: The English of the New World, New York: Charles Scribner, page 587:- Burglarize, to, a term creeping into journalism. ... The word has a dangerous rival in the shorter burgle.
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1903 March 31, “From Day To Day”, in The Express and Telegraph, Adelaide, page 1:- During a recent burglary epidemic a police superintendent one night made a tour of inspection through the burglarised district.
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1922, Victor Appleton, chapter 9, in Tom Swift And His Electric Locomotive, New York: Grossett and Dunlap, page 82:- This attempt to burglarize the house betrayed the caliber of the enemy.
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2007 December 14, Robert Muirhead, “Man sent to prison for robbing woman at gunpoint”, in Journal Inquirer.com, Connecticut, page 228:- Police said they believed the woman interrupted Harvey as he attempted to burglarize nearby cars.
Synonyms
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