robber
pronunciation
How to pronounce robber in British English:
UK [ˈrɒbə(r)]
How to pronounce robber in American English:
US [ˈrɑːbər]
-
- Noun:
- a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
Word Origin
- robber (n.)
- late 12c., from Anglo-French robbere, Old French robeor, agent noun from rober (see rob). Robber baron in the "corrupt, greedy financier" sense is attested from 1870s, from a comparison of Gilded Age capitalists to medieval European warlords. It is the attempt of the more shrewd to take advantage of the less shrewd. It is the attempt of the strong to oppress the weak. It is the old robber baron in his castle descending, after men have planted their crops, and stealing them. [Henry Ward Beecher, sermon, "Truthfulness," 1871] Regulation by combination means that the railroad managers are feudal lords and that you are their serfs. It means that every car load of grain or other produce of your fields and shops that passes over the New York Central shall pay heavy toll for right of transit to Vanderbilt, the robber baron of our modern feudalism, who dominates that way. [W.C. Flagg, testimony to Congress, 1874]
Example
- 1. The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought .
- 2. The monopolistic excesses of the robber barons led to antitrust laws .
- 3. Even setting aside its alleged robber baron , this will be tough .
- 4. This was when robber barons started to collect unauthorised taxes on the gorge .
- 5. The business titans mr bloomberg lists were known as the " robber barons " .