peculatus Latin · revision 9568

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *peḱ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛ.kuːˈɫaː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [pe.kuˈlaː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pecūlātus''' ''m'' (genitive pecūlātūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Also ''pequlātus'' in an inscription.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[pecūlor]] “to embezzle” with the action-noun suffix [[-tus]]; ⟨pecūlor⟩ is related to [[pecūnia]] “money” and [[pecus]] “cattle”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan traces ⟨pecu⟩ to [[ine-pro|*peḱ-u-|t=cattle]].^(de Vaan 2008) Isidore derives it from ⟨pecūnia⟩, Festus from ⟨pecus⟩, since fines were once paid in cattle.^(Isidore)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the embezzlement of public money or property, peculation, as in Cicero's ''pecūlātum facere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Isidore says the charge was brought against those who defraud the treasury and divert public money.^(Isidore)

+

+ [[en|peculation]] (1650s) is formed from ''pecūlārī''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1650s – English ''peculation'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|embezzlement|alt=Embezzlement]] of public funds, [[m|en|peculation]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pecūlor]]

+ * [[pecūnia]]

+ * [[pecus]]

+ * [[en|peculation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}