pecul

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations has been ruined. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who peculates. “Peculators of the public gold.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And purify unto himself a peculiar people. Titus ii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Particular; individual; special; appropriate. [ 1913 Webster ]

While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

My fate is Juno's most peculiar care. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the sky had a peculiar appearance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Peculiar, Special, Especial. Peculiar is from the Roman peculium, which was a thing emphatically and distinctively one's own, and hence was dear. The former sense always belongs to peculiar (as, a peculiar style, peculiar manners, etc.), and usually so much of the latter as to involve feelings of interest; as, peculiar care, watchfulness, satisfaction, etc. Nothing of this kind belongs to special and especial. They mark simply the relation of species to genus, and denote that there is something in this case more than ordinary; as, a special act of Congress; especial pains, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beauty, which, either walking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

For naught so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Revenge is . . . the peculiar of Heaven. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Canon Law) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Court of Peculiars (Eng. Law), a branch of the Court of Arches having cognizance of the affairs of peculiars. Blackstone. --
Dean of peculiars. See under Dean, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Peculiarities 1. The quality or state of being peculiar; individuality; singularity. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; particularity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The smallest peculiarity of temper or manner. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Exclusive possession or right. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Peculiarized p. pr. & vb. n. Peculiarizing ] To make peculiar; to set apart or assign, as an exclusive possession. [ R. ] Dr. John Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a peculiar manner; particularly; in a rare and striking degree; unusually. [ 1913 Webster ]