Peculating

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.
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