PECULATE

peculate. Peculate, v.t. to defraud the public of property entrusted to one's care

---

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. An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke.