Adjacent Words

Abet definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ABET' v.t. [Sax. betan, gebatan; properly to push forward, to advance; hence to amend, to revive, to restore, to make better; and applied to fire, to increase the flame, to excite, to promote. Hence to aid by encouraging or instigating. Hence in Saxon, "Na bete nan man that fyr." Let no man bet, [better, excite] the fire, LL. Ina. 78.]
1. To encourage by aid or countenance, but now used chiefly in a bad sense. "To abet an opinion," in the sense of support, is used by Bishop Cumberland; but this use is hardly allowable.
2. In law, to encourage, counsel, incite or assist in a criminal act.
ABET', n. The act of aiding or encouraging in a crime. [Not used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (abetted; abetting) Etymology: Middle English abetten, from Anglo-French abeter, from a- (from Latin ad-) + beter to bait, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English b?tan to bait Date: 14th century 1. to actively second and encourage (as an activity or plan) ; forward 2. to assist or support in the achievement of a purpose <abetted the thief in his getaway> Synonyms: see incite • abetment noun • abettor also abetter noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (abetted, abetting) (usu. in aid and abet) encourage or assist (an offender or offence). Derivatives: abetment n. Etymology: ME f. OF abeter f. à to + beter BAIT(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Abet A*bet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Abetting.] [OF. abeter; a (L. ad) + beter to bait (as a bear), fr. Icel. beita to set dogs on, to feed, originally, to cause to bite, fr. Icel. b[=i]ta to bite, hence to bait, to incite. See Bait, Bet.] 1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. ``The whole tribe abets the villany.'' --South. Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his wealth? --Gay. 2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense. [Obs.]. Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted. --Jer. Taylor. 3. (Law) To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense. Syn: To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Abet A*bet", n. [OF. abet, fr. abeter.] Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(abets, abetting, abetted) If one person abets another, they help or encourage them to do something criminal or wrong. Abet is often used in the legal expression 'aid and abet'. (LEGAL FORMAL) His wife was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for aiding and abetting him... VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Aid, assist, help, support, succor, second, sustain, uphold, back, co-operate with, take part with, give support to, embolden, subsidize. 2. Favor, encourage, sanction, countenance, advocate, connive at, be or become subsidiary to. 3. (Law.) Instigate (to commit a crime), stimulate, incite, foment.

Moby Thesaurus

advance, advocate, aid, aid and abet, approve of, ask for, assist, avail, bail out, bear a hand, befriend, benefit, comfort, condone, countenance, do for, do good, doctor, ease, egg, egg on, embolden, encourage, endorse, exhort, favor, feed, foment, foster, further, give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give encouragement, give help, go for, goad, hearten, help, help out, incite, instigate, invite, keep in countenance, lend a hand, lend one aid, nourish, nurture, prod, proffer aid, promote, protect, provoke, raise, rally, reclaim, redeem, relieve, remedy, render assistance, rescue, restore, resuscitate, revive, sanction, save, second, set, set on, set up, shine upon, smile upon, spur, stead, stir up, subscribe, succor, support, take in tow, uphold, urge, whip up