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peculate

[ pek-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˈpɛk yəˌleɪt /
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verb (used with or without object), pec·u·lat·ed, pec·u·lat·ing.

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

RELATED WORDS

embezzle, steal

Nearby words

  1. pectous,
  2. pectus,
  3. pectus carinatum,
  4. pectus excavatum,
  5. pectus recurvatum,
  6. peculation,
  7. peculiar,
  8. peculiar institution,
  9. peculiar people,
  10. peculiarity

Origin of peculate

1740–50; v. use of peculate embezzlement (now obsolete) < Latin pecūlātus, equivalent to pecūlā(rī) to embezzle, literally, to make public property private + -tus suffix of v. action. See peculiar, -ate1
Related formspec·u·la·tion, nounpec·u·la·tor, nounun·pec·u·lat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for peculate

British Dictionary definitions for peculate

peculate

/ (ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

to appropriate or embezzle (public money)
Derived Formspeculation, nounpeculator, noun

Word Origin for peculate

C18: from Latin pecūlārī, from pecūlium private property (originally, cattle); see peculiar
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
Word Origin and History for peculate

peculate

v.

1749, from Latin peculatus, past participle of peculari "to embezzle," from peculum "private property," originally "cattle" (see peculiar). Related: Peculated; peculating; peculator.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper