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

Peculate, pek′ū-lāt, v.t. to take for one's own use money or property entrusted to one's care: to embezzle: to steal.—ns.

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

Thus, with a very small amount of labour, the peasant of Syria can afford to have an idle time of it, were he not in terror of government taxes; for although the system of taxation is fairly and justly arranged, and in reality the sums levied are small in proportion to the income, still there are understrappers, besides their own Christian Nazir and Sheikhs, who peculate to a large extent under the plea of some false necessity. 

From Project Gutenberg

On reading the account of the awful sufferings and privations of the army at certain periods of the Revolution and in view of the glory of the cause and the limited means of carrying on the unequal struggle, an honest man can scarcely believe men then existed who would speculate—yes more—peculate upon suffering humanity.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg