peculate

American  

[pek-yuh-leyt] / ˈpɛk yəˌleɪt /

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

No man ever paid a bribe for the handling of the public money, but to peculate from it.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 10 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

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

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)

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