embezzle English · revision 2055

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪmˈbɛz.əl/; /ɛmˈbɛz.əl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''embesilen'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|xno|enbesiler|t=to steal, make disappear]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''en-'' and ''besiler'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) Old French ''besillier'' “to destroy, ravage, gouge”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) which is of unknown origin.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To make away with provisions or money; to carry off secretly what belongs to another (1397; about 1425 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th century the verb also meant to weaken or diminish something (1566),^(OED 1989) and to squander property through waste (1578).^(OED 1989) The modern sense, to divert money to one's own use in breach of trust or official duty, dates from about 1600^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and is the only one still current.^(OED 1989) ''Embezzlement'' is recorded from 1548.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1397 – to make away with, carry off secretly.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1548 – ''embezzlement''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1566 – to weaken, impair (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1578 – to squander.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – to misappropriate entrusted money.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1667 – ''embezzler''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To take money or property entrusted to one's care for one's own use, in breach of trust.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[embezzlement]]

+ * [[embezzler]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[peculate]]

+ * [[defalcate]]

+ * [[misappropriate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}