Peculate — Pec u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Peculated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Peculating}.] [L. peculatus, p. p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See {Peculiar}.] To appropriate to one s own use the property of the public; to steal… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
peculate — (v.) 1749, from L. peculatus, pp. of peculari to embezzle, from peculum private property (see PECULIAR (Cf. peculiar)) … Etymology dictionary
peculate — [pek′yo͞o lāt΄, pek′yəlāt΄] vt., vi. peculated, peculating [< L peculatus, pp. of peculari, to embezzle < peculium, private property < pecus, cattle: for IE base see FEE] to steal or misuse (money or property entrusted to one s care, esp … English World dictionary
peculate — peculation, n. peculator, n. /pek yeuh layt /, v.t., v.i., peculated, peculating. to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one s care); embezzle. [1740 50; v. use of peculate embezzlement (now obs.) < L… … Universalium
peculate — pec•u•late [[t]ˈpɛk yəˌleɪt[/t]] v. t. v. i. lat•ed, lat•ing to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one s care); embezzle • Etymology: 1740–50; v. use of peculate embezzlement (now obs.) < L pecūlātus … From formal English to slang
peculate — transitive verb ( lated; lating) Etymology: Latin peculatus, past participle of peculari, from peculium Date: 1802 embezzle • peculation noun • peculator noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
peculate — verb To embezzle See Also: peculation, peculator … Wiktionary
peculate — Synonyms and related words: abuse, befoul, convert, debase, defalcate, defile, desecrate, divert, embezzle, foul, maladminister, misapply, misappropriate, misemploy, mishandle, mismanage, misuse, pervert, pilfer, pollute, profane, prostitute,… … Moby Thesaurus
peculate — pec·u·late || pekjÉ™leɪt / jÊŠ v. embezzle, steal … English contemporary dictionary
peculate — v. n. Embezzle, appropriate criminally, steal, pilfer, rob, defraud … New dictionary of synonyms
