embezzle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to fraudulently take money or property that has been entrusted to one's care, especially from an employer or organization

   The finance officer used false invoices to embezzle money from the charity.

From Middle English embesilen, through Anglo-Norman embesiler, 'to steal or cause to disappear,' formed with em- and Old French besillier, 'to torment, destroy, or gouge,' a verb of uncertain origin. The modern sense narrowed to theft of property held in trust.

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