peculate, beget, deflect, admonish, succumb: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from Word Master set 18. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. peculate · verb/ˈpɛkjʊleɪt/

   to embezzle or steal funds or property entrusted to one's care

   The manager was caught trying to peculate money from the company's accounts.

   Synonyms: embezzle, steal, misappropriate

   Origin: from Latin 'peculatus', a form of 'peculium' meaning 'property' or 'money'

2. beget · verb/bɪˈɡɛt/

   to produce offspring or cause a result

   Hard work can beget great success in life.

   Synonyms: father, generate, produce

   Origin: Middle English 'begeten', from Old English 'begettan', meaning 'to get, to bring about'

3. deflect · verb/dɪˈflɛkt/

   to cause something to change direction or to turn aside from a straight course

   The goalie was able to deflect the ball away from the goal.

   Synonyms: divert, redirect, turn

   Origin: from Latin 'de' meaning 'away' + 'flectere' meaning 'to bend'

4. admonish · verb/ədˈmɑnɪʃ/

   to warn or reprimand someone firmly

   The teacher had to admonish the students for talking during the lesson.

   Synonyms: warn, reprimand, reproach

   Origin: from Latin 'admonere' meaning 'to warn, advise'

5. succumb · verb/səˈkʌm/

   to yield to a superior force or to give in to a desire or temptation

   She decided to succumb to her craving for chocolate and ate the whole cake.

   Synonyms: yield, give in, submit

   Origin: from Latin 'succumbere', which means 'to fall under' or 'to yield'