Legal Dictionary

abet

Legal Definition of abet

Noun

The act of encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime

Example: Many countries will equally punish a person who aids or abets another to commit a crime.

Etymology

From Old French abeter from �- + beter ("to bait an animal"), from Old Norse beita ("to cause to bite"), hence to bait, to incite; compare Icelandic beita ("to set dogs on", "to feed"). This in turn was derived from Proto-Germanic *baitjan, from Proto-Indo-European *bheid- ("to split").

Pronunciation

Verb

to abet (third-person singular simple present abets, present participle abetting, simple past and past participle abetted)

(transitive) To assist or encourage by aid or countenance, especially in crime.<br/>
He plans to abet an ill-doer.
He plans to abet in his wicked courses.
He plans to abet vice.
He plans to abet an insurrection.
The robber's friend will abet by providing the escape car.
- South: The whole tribe abets the villany.
- Gay: Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his wealth?
(transitive) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid any cause, opinion, or action; to maintain; -- (Obsolete) in a good sense.
(transitive) To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain.
- Jer. Taylor: Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
(obsolete) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do something) - first known use 1390
(obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.

Synonyms

(to instigate or encourage by aid or countenance): incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at.

Noun

abet (plural abets)

Shorthand

Gregg (Version: Centennial, Series 90, DJS, Simplified, Anniversary, Pre-Anniversary): a - b - e - t

Anagrams

References:

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