| Front | peculation \peh-kyuh-LAY-shun\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun Embezzlement. ["Peculation" derives ultimately from Latin "peculatus," meaning "misappropriation of public property," and "peculator," meaning "embezzler." Both belong to a family of Latin words having to do with property and possession. The most basic members of the family are "pecu" ("herd, flock") and "pecus" ("livestock"), animals being a fundamental form of wealth in rural society. Other members of the family include "pecunia" ("wealth, money"), which gave English "pecuniary" ("monetary"), and "peculiaris" ("one's own, private, special"), which lead to our "peculiar."] |
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