embezzle

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: em=bez=zle

CIDE DICTIONARY

embezzle, v. t. [Norm. F. embeseiller to destroy; cf. OF. besillier to ill treat, ravage, destroy. Cf. Bezzle.].

•  To appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property intrusted to one's care; to apply to one's private uses by a breach of trust; as, to embezzle money held in trust.  [1913 Webster]
•  To misappropriate; to waste; to dissipate in extravagance.  [1913 Webster]

  "To embezzle our money in drinking or gaming."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

embezzle, v.tr. (also absol.) divert (money etc.) fraudulently to one's own use.

Derivative

embezzlement n. embezzler n.

Etymology

AF embesiler (as EN-(1), OF besillier maltreat, ravage, of unkn. orig.)

THESAURUS

embezzle

abstract, abuse, and, annex, appropriate, bag, befoul, boost, borrow, convert, cop, crib, debase, defalcate, defile, defraud, desecrate, divert, extort, filch, foul, hook, lift, loot, make off with, maladminister, misapply, misappropriate, misemploy, mishandle, mismanage, misuse, nip, palm, peculate, pervert, pilfer, pinch, poach, pollute, profane, prostitute, purloin, run away with, rustle, scrounge, shoplift, snare, snatch, snitch, steal, swindle, swipe, take, thieve, violate, walk off with

ROGET THESAURUS

embezzle

Stealing

VB steal, thieve, rob, mug, purloin, pilfer, filch, prig, bag, nim, crib, cabbage, palm, abstract, appropriate, plagiarize, convey away, carry off, abduct, kidnap, crimp, make off with, walk off with, run off with, run away with, spirit away, seize, plunder, pillage, rifle, sack, loot, ransack, spoil, spoliate, despoil, strip, sweep, gut, forage, levy blackmail, pirate, pickeer, maraud, lift cattle, poach, smuggle, run, badger, bail up, hold up, stick up, bunco, bunko, filibuster, swindle, peculate, embezzle, sponge, mulct, rook, bilk, pluck, pigeon, fleece, defraud, obtain under false pretenses, live by one's wits, rob Peter to pay Paul, borrow of Peter to pay Paul, set a thief to catch a thief, disregard the distinction between meum and tuum, fence, launder, launder money.