v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Embezzled p. pr. & vb. n. Embezzling ] [ Norm. F. embeseiller to destroy; cf. OF. besillier to ill treat, ravage, destroy. Cf. Bezzle. ] 1. To appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property intrusted to one's care; to apply to one's private uses by a breach of trust; as, to embezzle money held in trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To misappropriate; to waste; to dissipate in extravagance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To embezzle our money in drinking or gaming. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. taken for one's own use in violation of a trust; -- of money; as, the banker absconded with embezzled payroll; the embezzled funds amounted to millions of dollars.
Syn. -- misappropriated. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been intrusted; as, the embezzlement by a clerk of his employer's money; embezzlement of public funds by the public officer having them in charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Larceny denotes a taking, by fraud or stealth, from another's possession; embezzlement denotes an appropriation, by fraud or stealth, of property already in the wrongdoer's possession. In England and in most of the United States embezzlement is made indictable by statute. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who embezzles. [ 1913 Webster ]