To steal a march

Steal \Steal\ (st[=e]l), v. t. [imp. {Stole} (st[=o]l); p. p.
   {Stolen} (st[=o]"l'n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Stealing}.] [OE.
   stelen, AS. stelan; akin to OFries. stela, D. stelen, OHG.
   stelan, G. stehlen, Icel. stela, SW. stj[aum]la, Dan.
   stiaele, Goth. stilan.]
   1. To take, and carry away, feloniously; to take without
      right or leave, and with intent to keep wrongfully; as, to
      steal the personal goods of another.
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            Maugre thy heed, thou must for indigence
            Or steal, or beg, or borrow, thy dispense.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            The man who stole a goose and gave away the giblets
            in alms.                              --G. Eliot.
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   2. To withdraw or convey clandestinely (reflexive); hence, to
      creep furtively, or to insinuate.
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            They could insinuate and steal themselves under the
            same by their humble carriage and submission.
                                                  --Spenser.
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            He will steal himself into a man's favor. --Shak.
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   3. To gain by insinuating arts or covert means.
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            So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
                                                  --2 Sam. xv.
                                                  6.
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   4. To get into one's power gradually and by imperceptible
      degrees; to take possession of by a gradual and
      imperceptible appropriation; -- with away.
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            Variety of objects has a tendency to steal away the
            mind from its steady pursuit of any subject. --I.
                                                  Watts.
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   5. To accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner; to try
      to carry out secretly; as, to steal a look.
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            Always, when thou changest thine opinion or course,
            profess it plainly, . . . and do not think to steal
            it.                                   --Bacon.
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   {To steal a march}, to march in a covert way; to gain an
      advantage unobserved; -- formerly followed by of, but now
      by on or upon, and sometimes by over; as, to steal a march
      upon one's political rivals.
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            She yesterday wanted to steal a march of poor Liddy.
                                                  --Smollett.
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            Fifty thousand men can not easily steal a march over
            the sea.                              --Walpole.
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   Syn: To filch; pilfer; purloin; thieve.
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