Abet

//əˈbɛt//

Definitions

1
To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.
aid and abet
Similar
collude conspire connive
2
To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action).
Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
Similar
approve patronize sanction
3
To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.
Similar
instigate foment encourage

1
Fraud or cunning.
2
An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid.

Word Origin

From Middle English abetten, abette, from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”), either from Middle Dutch bētan (“incite”) or from Old Norse beita (“to ca...

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Translations

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Abet

//əˈbɛt//

Definitions

verbabets · abetting · abetted

1
To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.
aid and abet
Similar
collude conspire connive
2
To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action).
Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
Similar
approve patronize sanction
3
To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.
Similar
instigate foment encourage

nounabets

1
Fraud or cunning.
2
An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid.

Word Origin

From Middle English abetten, abette, from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”), either from Middle Dutch bētan (“incite”) or from Old Norse beita (“to ca...

Explore more words in the dictionaryWord of the Day

Translations

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Opposite

baffle confound counteract