Past tense of embezzle: to steal money or property that one is trusted to manage or look after, usually over time.
From Old French 'embesiller,' possibly from 'em-' (to make) and 'besil' (profit or gain dishonestly). The word emerged in legal contexts during the Middle Ages to describe a specific kind of theft involving breach of trust.
Embezzlement is a crime of trust—you have to have access and authority first before you can embezzle, which is why it's so insidious; it's theft disguised as legitimate management, betrayal from inside!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.