Search the Dictionary

To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle. An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke.

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. Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations has been ruined. Burke.

In a pecuniary manner; as regards money.

Relating to money; monetary; as, a pecuniary penalty; a pecuniary reward. Burke.

Abounding in money; wealthy; rich. [Obs.] Sherwood.

Money; riches; lucre; gain; -- generally conveying the idea of something ill-gotten or worthless. It has no plural. "Mucky pelf." Spenser. "Paltry pelf." Burke. Can their pelf prosper, not got by valor or industry Fuller.

Destitute of money; impecunious; poor. -- Pen"ni*less*ness, n.

Money, in general; as, to turn an honest penny. What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent Shak.

Hence: The full value of one's penny expended; due return for money laid out; a good bargain; a bargain. The priests sold the better pennyworths. Locke.

A certain sum of money paid to a clergyman in lieu of tithes. [Eng.] Mozley & W.

ity of Cambridge, England, one who pays for his living in commons; -- corresponding to commoner at Oxford. Ld. Lytton.

Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly. "A penurious niggard of his wealth." Milton.

Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.

A Spanish silver coin, and money of account, equal to about nineteen cents, and divided into 100 centesimos.

or every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; -- called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope. -- Peter's fish (Zoöl.), a haddock; -- so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are trad…

tty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. "He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis." S. Butler.

walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under Average. -- Petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. -- Petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.

Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall, formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] Pepys. Milton. Pew opener, an usher in a church. [Eng.] Dickens.

Money paid at fairs for leave to break ground for booths. Ainsworth.

One who steals purses, or money from purses. Latimer. Shak.