peculate

[ pek-yuh-leyt ]

/ ˈpɛk yəˌleɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR peculate ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM peculate

pec·u·la·tion, noun pec·u·la·tor, noun un·pec·u·lat·ing, adjective

Words nearby peculate

pectous, pectus, pectus carinatum, pectus excavatum, pectus recurvatum, peculate, peculiar, peculiar institution, peculiar people, peculiarity, peculiarize

Example sentences from the Web for peculation

A secretary may quarrel with the President, or he may have the gout, or be convicted of peculation.

The Duke's Children |Anthony Trollope
I said, more to sound him than for information, for this was one of the most favoured forms of peculation in the colonies.

The Span o' Life |William McLennan
In Louisbourg, as elsewhere in Canada, peculation was rife, and officers and commissaries made profit at the privates' expense.

A Historical Geography of the British Colonies |Charles Prestwood Lucas
I heard afterwards that peculation had probably more to do with the loss than a storm.

Three Years in Western China |Alexander Hosie

Mr. Hastings had no right, in order to clear himself of peculation, to criminate the majority with faction.

The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VIII. (of 12) |Edmund Burke

British Dictionary definitions for peculation

peculate

/ (ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt) /

verb

to appropriate or embezzle (public money)

Derived forms of peculate

peculation, noun peculator, noun

Word Origin for peculate

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

peculate

verb (used with or without object), pec·u·lat·ed, pec·u·lat·ing.

Origin of peculate

OTHER WORDS FROM peculate

Words nearby peculate

Example sentences from the Web for peculation

British Dictionary definitions for peculation

verb

Derived forms of peculate

Word Origin for peculate

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

peculate

verb (used with or without object), pec·u·lat·ed, pec·u·lat·ing.

Origin of peculate

OTHER WORDS FROM peculate

Words nearby peculate

Words related to peculation

Example sentences from the Web for peculation

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verb

Derived forms of peculate

Word Origin for peculate

British Dictionary definitions for peculation