Greek and Latin Roots of English: Kleptomania

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary kleptomania is "a persistent neurotic impulse to steal especially without economic motive". Like the woman in the picture.

According to the Etymology Dictionary kleptomania derives from Greek kleptes- "thief" and -mania "compulsion or obsession".

Cleptobiosis has got the same root as kleptomania. Another words with the root klepto- or clepto- are: biblioklept, clepsydra, kleptocracy. Other words with the root -mania are: heroinomania, melomania, erotomania.

Photo: Mark Velasquez

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Kleptomania