embezzle

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use

Etymology

From Middle English embesilen, from Anglo-Norman embesiler, embesillier, embeseillier (“to steal, cause to disappear”), from em- + Old French besillier (“to torment, destroy, gouge”), of unknown origin.

In classic literature

Synonyms

defalcate, peculate, misappropriate, malversate

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