Pec'u·late intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Peculated ; present participle & verbal noun Peculating .] [ Latin peculatus , past participle of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. S... Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/P/39
peculate 1. To steal or to take dishonestly (money, especially public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle; literally, 'to make public property private'. 2. To steal; to embezzle public money; to appropriate as private property, literally from, 'property in cattle'. Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/3371/