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abet

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a⋅bet

  [uh-bet]
Use abet in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), a⋅bet⋅ted, a⋅bet⋅ting.
to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually in wrongdoing: to abet a swindler; to abet a crime.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME abette (whence OF abeter, unless perh. the latter, of Gmc orig., be the source for the ME), OE *ābǣtan to hound on, equiv. to ā- a- 3 + bǣtan to bait, akin to bite

Related forms:
a⋅bet⋅ment, a⋅bet⋅tal, noun

Synonyms:
help, aid, assist; promote.

Antonyms:
hinder, discourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·bet   (ə-bět')   
tr.v.   a·bet·ted, a·bet·ting, a·bets

  1. To approve, encourage, and support (an action or a plan of action); urge and help on.

  2. To urge, encourage, or help (a person): abetted the thief in robbing the bank.


[Middle English abetten, from Old French abeter, to entice : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + beter, to bait; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.]
a·bet'ment n., a·bet'tor, a·bet'ter n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

abet 
c.1374 (implied in abetting), from O.Fr. abeter "to bait, to harass with dogs," lit. "to cause to bite," from à "to" + beter "to bait," from a Gmc. source, perhaps Low Franconian betan "incite," or O.N. beita "cause to bite," from P.Gmc. *baitjan, from PIE base *bheid- "to split" (see fissure).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: abet
Pronunciation: &-'bet
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: abet·ted; abet·ting
: to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime —often used in the phrase aid and abet —abet·ment noun —abet·tor also abet·ter /&-'be-t&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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