peculate

American  

[pek-yuh-leyt] / ˈpɛk jəˌleɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

peculated, peculating

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

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peculate British  

/ ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to appropriate or embezzle (public money)

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Other Word Forms

• peculation
  noun
• peculator
  noun
• unpeculating
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of peculate

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”; see origin at peculiar, -ate ¹

Explanation

If you embezzle, especially if you steal public funds for your own private use, then you peculate that money. To peculate is, of course, illegal — if you're caught, you can serve jail time. Peculate comes from the Latin word peculium, meaning private property, which itself has the root pecu, or cattle, so the literal meaning of peculium is "property in cattle." Cattle were considered very valuable property in ancient times, and stealing them was a grave act. Other words that have pecu at their roots include "peculiar" and "pecuniary." Despite the extremely similar spelling, the word "speculate" has totally different roots that have nothing to do with either cattle or embezzlement.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peculate peculated peculating

The former is counted by hundreds of taels; the latter, by thousands, especially where there is a temptation to peculate.

From The Awakening of China by Martin, W. A. P. (William Alexander Parsons)

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

From The Three Devils: Luther's, Milton's, and Goethe's With Other Essays by Masson, David

That great man little liked that any one but himself should peculate in his dominions, and, in the end, M. de Talleyrand was obliged to quit the Hotel Monaco.

From Recollections of Europe by Cooper, James Fenimore

It is true that the excellent chef began to peculate, but as his cuisine did not suffer, the result was not noticeable for a long period.

From The Old Wives' Tale by Bennett, Arnold

I shall not dwell upon his Military Character or the measures he had adopted for the surrender of West Point—that being already fully Elucidated but will give you a small specimen of his peculate talents.

From Colonel John Brown, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the Brave Accuser of Benedict Arnold by Howe, Archibald Murray

The minor officials misruled and peculated, as we have related in our introductory sketch of the viceroyal government.

From Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican Vol. 1 of 2 A Historical, Geographical, Political, Statistical and Social Account of That Country From the Period of the Invasion by the Spaniards to the Present Time; With a View of the Ancient Aztec Empire and Civilization; A Historical Sketch of the Late War; And Notices of New Mexico and California by Mayer, Brantz

He is coarse, uneducated, and vulgar; he never picked up any semblance of the class from whom he peculated; and has lived on, as he began, a "low comedy villain," and no more.

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Lever, Charles James

He was once the Shah’s Prime Minister: he peculated, and was disgraced.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Berdoe, Edward

We saw him hanging Schlubhut in the autumn of 1731, who had peculated from said moneys; and surveying Preussen, under storms of thunder and rain on one occasion.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 09 by Carlyle, Thomas

Walpole bribed, Swift maligned, Bolingbroke intrigued, Charteris seduced, and Marlborough peculated just as if the New Light had not dawned and the miracles had remained intact.

From Caricature and Other Comic Art in all Times and many Lands. by Parton, James

It is due to Mr Tigg to say that he had really risen with his opportunities; and, peculating on a grander scale, he had become a grander man altogether.

From Martin Chuzzlewit by Dickens, Charles

After Newport's departure, Ratcliffe, the president, lived in ease, peculating on the public store.

From History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Campbell, Charles

Or shall I tell him the story of Davoust at Hamburg, when the Syndicate accused him of peculating, and mentioned some millions that he had abstracted from the treasury.

From Roland Cashel Volume II (of II) by Lever, Charles James

He immediately made up his mind that Deane was peculating, and never ceased writing accusatory letters until Congress recalled the unfortunate envoy.

From Benjamin Franklin by More, Paul Elmer

He was charged with various acts of extortion on the citizens of Philadelphia, and with peculating on the public funds.

From Life and Times of Washington, Volume 2 Revised, Enlarged, and Enriched by Schroeder, John Frederick