defalcate

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To cut off (a part of something).
3. (obsolete, transitive) To deduct or take away (a part of income, money, rents, etc.).

Synonyms

embezzle

misappropriate

peculate

purloin

malversate

give away

kidnap

misemploy

rifle

rob

scrounge

snitch

steal

swipe

thieve

abuse

betray

defalk

bewray

cop

👮

crib

defraud

Translations

défalquer

détourner

dilapider

divertir

verduisteren

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]

Etymology

First attested in the 1530s, in the sense “to lop off”; borrowed from Medieval Latin dēfalcātus, perfect passive participle of dēfalcō (“to cut or lop off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin dē (“off”) + falx (“sickle, scythe, pruning hook”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).