PECULATE

embezzle, defalcate, peculate, misappropriate, malversate

(verb) appropriate (as property entrusted to one’s care) fraudulently to one’s own use; “The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars while working for the wealthy family”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

peculate (third-person singular simple present peculates, present participle peculating, simple past and past participle peculated)

To embezzle

Synonyms

• defalcate

• embezzle

• misappropriate

Source: Wiktionary


Pec"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Peculating.] Etym: [L. peculatus, p.p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See Peculiar.]

Definition: To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle. An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

1 May 2025

ECONOMIC

(adjective) of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth; “economic growth”; “aspects of social, political, and economical life”


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Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Finland is the biggest coffee consumer in the entire world. The average Finn will consume 12 kg of coffee each year.

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