peculating

Variant of peculate

transitive verb, intransitive verb peculated, peculating

to steal or misuse (money or property entrusted to one's care, esp. public funds); embezzle

Origin: < L peculatus, pp. of peculari, to embezzle < peculium, private property < pecus, cattle: for IE base see fee

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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