robbery
UK[ˈrɒbəri]US[ˈrɑːbəri]
n
the crime of stealing money or property from a person or place by using force or the threat of force.
Etymology
the word 'robbery' entered english in the early 13th century from old french 'roberie', which itself derived from the verb 'rober' meaning 'to rob, plunder'. the old french term has germanic origins, likely from a frankish source related to the old high german 'roubon' and the proto-germanic 'raubōną', meaning 'to break, tear, or plunder'. this germanic root is connected to the idea of violent seizure, a sense preserved in the modern definition which emphasizes theft through force or intimidation. the core concept has remained remarkably stable from its proto-indo-european root meaning 'to break' through its journey into modern english legal terminology.
Analysis
the word 'robbery' is a simplex noun derived from the verb 'rob'. it is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern english. the '-ery' suffix is a noun-forming suffix of french/latin origin, but it is fused with the root 'rob'.
Examples
he was charged with armed robbery after holding up a convenience store.
the dramatic increase in street robbery has become a major concern for the police.
she was a victim of a daylight robbery in the city center.