pilfered

Pilfered is the past tense of the verb pilfer. It describes the act of stealing something, typically in small quantities. The term often implies a stealthy or petty theft, rather than a large-scale robbery. For example, someone might say "a few cookies were pilfered from the jar" to indicate that a small, unauthorized amount of cookies was taken. The act of pilfering suggests a lack of boldness and often involves taking items that are not of significant value. It can also refer to the act of stealing ideas or information in a subtle way. The origin of the word "pilfer" is believed to come from the Middle English word "pilferen," which may have connections to the word "pelf," meaning money or goods. The concept of pilfering is generally considered a minor offense, though it remains a form of theft.