Word Study
Embezzle
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 withROGET 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.For further exploring for "Embezzle" in Webster Dictionary Online