'Peculate' definitions:
Definition of 'peculate'
(from WordNet)
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" [syn: embezzle, defalcate, peculate, misappropriate, malversate]
Definition of 'Peculate'
From: GCIDE
- 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 public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle. [1913 Webster]
- An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'peculate'
From: Moby Thesaurus