PEC'ULATE, verb intransitive [Latin peculatus, peculor, from peculium, private property, from pecus, cattle.] 1. To defraud the public of money or goods entrusted to one's care, by appropriating the property to one's own use; to defraud by embezzlement. 2. Among civilians, to steal.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI