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Aug 4, 2011

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This week's words
oenophile
interstitial
stupefy
defalcate
somnolence

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A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

defalcate

PRONUNCIATION:

(di-FAL-kayt)

MEANING:

verb intr. To misuse funds; to embezzle.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin defalcare (to cut off), from de- (off) + falx (sickle). Earliest documented use: 1541.

USAGE:

"Prakash hit upon a more daring method to defalcate the company."
Samsung Official Dupes Company of Crores; The Economic Times (New Delhi, India); Dec 2, 2005.

See more usage examples of defalcate in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. -Moliere, actor and playwright (1622-1673)

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