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.