Defalcate

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Defalcate \De*fal"cate\, v. i.
     To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some
     partner defalcating, or the like." --Carlyle.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Defalcate \De*fal"cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defalcated}; p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Defalcating}.] [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of
     defalcare to deduct, orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de-
     + falx, falcis, a sickle. See {Falchion}.]
     To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; -- used chiefly
     of money, accounts, rents, income, etc.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated
           from them [the estimates].               --Burke.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  defalcate
       v : 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}, {peculate}, {misappropriate}, {malversate}]