A burglar is an individual who unlawfully enters a building with the intention of committing a crime, usually theft. Burglars often target homes, businesses, and other establishments with valuable items or cash. They may use various tools and techniques to gain entry, such as lock picking, breaking windows or doors, or using false keys. Burglars may work alone or in groups, and they may be motivated by financial gain, thrill-seeking, or other factors. Burglary is a serious crime that can result in significant financial loss and emotional distress for victims. Law enforcement agencies often prioritize burglary prevention and investigation efforts, using tactics such as neighborhood watch programs, security cameras, and undercover operations to deter and catch burglars. Burglars who are caught and convicted may face fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences. In addition to the criminal aspects of burglary, the phenomenon has also been studied from a sociological perspective. Some researchers have examined the motivations and behaviors of burglars, seeking to understand why they engage in this type of criminal activity and how they select their targets. Others have explored the impact of burglary on victims and communities, looking at factors such as fear of crime, social disorganization, and the effectiveness of crime prevention strategies.
Crime, Theft, Law Enforcement, Motivations, Prevention
Burglar is a noun which refers to a person who illegally enters a building with the intention of committing a crime. Related lexical items include synonyms such as thief and robber, antonyms such as security guard and watchman and cognates such as the French ‘voleur’ or Spanish ‘ladron’. Variants of the word burglar include burgle and burglarize as well as the dated ‘burgomaster’.
etymological linguistics, lexicology, lexicon, historical semantics, morphology
The term 'Burglar' is derived from the Old French word 'burgleor' which has its roots from the Latin 'burgla' and the Late Latin 'burgularis'. This denotes an individual who has the intent to commit a crime and usually is associated with stealing a property. With the linguistic evolution of the term, it has come to mean an individual who breaks into a house or apartment, with or without the intention of committing a criminal act such as theft, arson or other illegal activity. In terms of morphology, Burglar is composed of two parts, the first being 'Burg' which is derived from the Latin 'burgus' which means a fortified place and the second part ‘lar’ is derived from the Latin 'larus' which was a term for a robber or thief. In terms of pragmatics, the word ‘Burglar’ denotes a person who unlawfully and deliberately intrudes into a building with the purpose of committing an offence (usually theft) or intentionally harming the inhabitants.
etymology, morphology, linguistic, evolution, historical
Burglar is an image composition technique used when drawing a character with a specific job in anime, comics or manga. The burglar is usually represented as a person dressed in dark clothing with a hood or a mask, and often in possession of a crowbar or similar tool. This type of character is often involved in nefarious activities, such as breaking and entering, stealing, or sabotage. Their portrayal in art may vary according to the specific story being told, but their primary purpose remains the same: to commit a criminal act.
Burglar, criminal, thief, break-in, heist.
CITATION : "Taro Yamada. 'Burglar.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=178488 (Accessed on June 30, 2025)"
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