peculate

[ pek-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, pec·u·lat·ed, pec·u·lat·ing.

1. to steal or take dishonestly (money, especially public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.

peculate

/ ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to appropriate or embezzle (public money)

Derived Forms

• ˈpecuˌlator, noun
• ˌpecuˈlation, noun

Other Words From

• pecu·lation noun
• pecu·lator noun
• un·pecu·lating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculate¹

First recorded in 1740–50; verb use of peculate “embezzlement” (now obsolete), from Latin past participle and noun pecūlātus “embezzled; embezzlement,” equivalent to pecūlā(rī) ) “to embezzle,” literally, “to make public property private” + -tus suffix of verbal action, derivative of pecu “wealth, livestock, movable property”; peculiar, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of peculate¹

C18: from Latin pecūlārī, from pecūlium private property (originally, cattle); see peculiar

Example Sentences

No man ever paid a bribe for the handling of the public money, but to peculate from it.

From Project Gutenberg

He knows how pedants hoodwink people, how priests act the hypocrite, how physicians act the rake, how lawyers peculate.

From Project Gutenberg