Defalcate definition

dĭ-fălkāt, -fôl-, dĕfəl-
defalcated defalcates defalcating
See word origin
Frequency:
To misuse funds; embezzle.
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To steal or misuse funds entrusted to one's care; embezzle.
verb
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verb
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To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of (money, rents, income, etc.).
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Origin of defalcate

  • Medieval Latin dēfalcāre dēfalcāt- to mow, deduct Latin dē- de- Latin falx falc- sickle

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • 1530s, in sense “to lop off”, from Medieval Latin dēfalcātus, perfect passive participle of dēfalcō (“cut or lop off”), from Latin dē (“off”) + falx (“sickle, scythe, pruning hook”), from which also English falcate (“sickle-shaped”).

    From Wiktionary