Present participle of embezzle; stealing money or property that has been entrusted to one's care, especially in a professional context. Fraudulent appropriation of funds by someone in a position of trust.
From Anglo-French 'embesiler' meaning to steal or make away with. 'Be-' prefix intensified meaning, and 'sil-' possibly related to 'seize.' Legal term established in medieval English law to distinguish breach of trust from simple theft.
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