Defn: See Picul.
PECULATE
Pec"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Peculating.] Etym: [L. peculatus, p.p. of peculari to peculate, akin
to peculium private property. See Peculiar.]
Defn: 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.
PECULATION
Pec`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act or practice of peculating, or of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods intrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement. Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations has been ruined. Burke.
PECULATOR
Pec"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who peculates. "Peculators of the public gold." Cowper.
PECULIAR Pe*cul"iar, a. Etym: [L. peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.]
1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation. And purify unto himself a peculiar people. Titus ii. 14. Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself. Hooker.
2. Particular; individual; special; appropriate. While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat. Milton. My fate is Juno's most peculiar care. Dryden.