malversation
/mælvəˈseɪʃən/ noun
Forms malversations
- noun Corrupt behaviour, illegitimate activity, especially by someone in authority.
Etymology
From French malversation, from malverser, from Latin male versari (“behave badly”). Compare Spanish malversación (“embezzlement”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Evil conduct; fraudulent practices; misbehavior, corruption, or extortion in office.
Etymology [F., fr. malverser to be corrupt in office, fr. L. male ill + versari to move about, to occupy one's self, vertere to turn. See Malice, and Verse.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “malversation”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details