Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

defalcate

[ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: de-fal-cate
IPA: [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.

Intransitive verb

verb

To cut off (a part of something).

Obsolete; Transitive verb

verb

To deduct or take away (a part of income, money, rents, etc.).

Obsolete; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"One would have thought the natural method in a plan of reformation vvould be, to take the preſent exiſting eſtimates as they ſtand; and then to ſhevv vvhat may be practicably and ſafely defalcated from them."

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).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: dē

Regional Pronunciation

British English: [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt]

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Finance.

Inflected Forms

defalcates (present, singular) defalcating (participle, present) defalcated (participle, past) defalcated (past)

Derived Forms

defalcation defalcator undefalcated

Frequently Paired Words

falcate lop

Synonyms

embezzle peculate misappropriate malversate

Questions

How do you pronounce defalcate?: The recorded pronunciation is [ˈdɛfəɫkeɪt].
What does defalcate mean?: To misappropriate funds; to embezzle.
Where does defalcate come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce defalcate

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