peculate

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pec=u=late

CIDE DICTIONARY

peculate, v. i. [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 public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle.  [1913 Webster]
"An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

peculate, v.tr. & intr. embezzle (money).

Derivative

peculation n. peculator n.

Etymology

L peculari rel. to peculium: see PECULIAR

THESAURUS

peculate

abuse, befoul, convert, debase, defalcate, defile, desecrate, divert, embezzle, foul, maladminister, misapply, misappropriate, misemploy, mishandle, mismanage, misuse, pervert, pilfer, pollute, profane, prostitute, violate

ROGET THESAURUS

peculate

Stealing

VB steal, thieve, rob, mug, purloin, pilfer, filch, prig, bag, nim, crib, cabbage, palm, abstract, appropriate, plagiarize, convey away, carry off, abduct, kidnap, crimp, make off with, walk off with, run off with, run away with, spirit away, seize, plunder, pillage, rifle, sack, loot, ransack, spoil, spoliate, despoil, strip, sweep, gut, forage, levy blackmail, pirate, pickeer, maraud, lift cattle, poach, smuggle, run, badger, bail up, hold up, stick up, bunco, bunko, filibuster, swindle, peculate, embezzle, sponge, mulct, rook, bilk, pluck, pigeon, fleece, defraud, obtain under false pretenses, live by one's wits, rob Peter to pay Paul, borrow of Peter to pay Paul, set a thief to catch a thief, disregard the distinction between meum and tuum, fence, launder, launder money.