peculium

/ (pɪˈkjuːlɪəm) /

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noun

Roman law property that a father or master allowed his child or slave to hold as his own

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.

Question 1 of 7

Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?

their

there

they're

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Word Origin for peculium

C17: from Latin; see peculiar

Words nearby peculium

peculiar, peculiar institution, peculiarity, peculiarize, peculiar people, peculium, pecuniary, pecuniary advantage, ped, pedagogical, pedagogics

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

Example sentences from the Web for peculium

Thus the slave gets a chance of acquiring what will be as a matter of fact a peculium.
Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland
The gains of the 'filii familias Assessores' were to be protected as if they were 'castrense peculium.'
The Letters of Cassiodorus|Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator)
At present each prisoner has a peculium, or at all events it is within his power to create one.
Old and New Paris, v. 2|Henry Sutherland Edwards
The institution of the peculium, or private fund, is of the first necessity for this purpose.
Old and New Paris, v. 2|Henry Sutherland Edwards

The "peculium" is, of course, elastic, and there is no particular place for drawing the line in the banker's book.
Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853)|Various

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