defalcation etymology

Etymology:

  • Late Latin: defalcatio "a cutting off, subtraction"
  • Medieval Latin: defalcare "to cut off, deduct"
  • Latin: defalcare "to cut off with a sickle"
  • Proto-Indo-European: bhel-, meaning "to cut"

Meaning:

  • The unauthorized abstraction of money belonging to an organization or individual
  • Embezzlement or fraud
  • A financial irregularity resulting from the misappropriation of funds

Origin:

The word "defalcation" originated in the Latin verb "defalcare," which literally means "to cut off with a sickle." In the context of finance, the term came to refer to the illegal removal of money from a fund or account.

Initially, "defalcation" was used to describe the act of cutting off a portion of a debt or obligation. Over time, its meaning evolved to encompass the more general concept of financial fraud and embezzlement. Today, it primarily refers to the unauthorized misappropriation of funds by a person entrusted with their management.

defalcation relate terms

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    Etymology The word falcate originates from the Latin word falx which means sickle

  • embezzlement

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  • larceny

    Etymology Middle English larcenye Old French larrecin Late Latin latrocinium robbe

  • raid

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  • amount

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  • deliver

    Etymology Latin deferre to bear away bring down Proto Indo European dʰer to

  • craft

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  • zombie

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  • porcelain

    Etymology Old French porcelaine Italian porcellana Latin porcellus piglet Meanin

  • mess

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