defalcate

[ dih-fal-keyt, -fawl- ]
/ dɪˈfæl keɪt, -ˈfɔl- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR defalcate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), de·fal·cat·ed, de·fal·cat·ing. Law.

to be guilty of defalcation.

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Origin of defalcate

1530–40; < Medieval Latin dēfalcātus (past participle of dēfalcāre to cut off), equivalent to dē- de- + falcātus; see falcate

OTHER WORDS FROM defalcate

de·fal·ca·tor, nounun·de·fal·cat·ed, adjective

Words nearby defalcate

deets, def, def., deface, defaecate, defalcate, defalcation, defamation, defamatory, defame, defamiliarization
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to defalcate

embezzle, misuse, plunder, misspend, swindle, bereave, raid, cheat, lose, mug, defraud, strip, divest, loot, hijack, ransack, misappropriate, pilfer, purloin, filch

Example sentences from the Web for defalcate

British Dictionary definitions for defalcate

defalcate
/ (ˈdiːfælˌkeɪt) /

verb

(intr) law to misuse or misappropriate property or funds entrusted to one

Derived forms of defalcate

defalcation, noundefalcator, noun

Word Origin for defalcate

C15: from Medieval Latin dēfalcāre to cut off, from Latin de- + falx sickle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012