English Explanatory Dictionary

abet

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.
  2. To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action).
  3. To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.
  4. To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.
noun
  1. Fraud or cunning.
  2. An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid.

Pronunciation

/əˈbɛt/ en-ca-abet.ogg

Word forms

abet abets abetting abetted

Etymology

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 cause to bite, bait, incite”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną (“to cause to bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”). Cognate with Icelandic beita (“to set dogs on; to feed”). Alternate etymology traces the Middle English and Old French words through Old English *ābǣtan (“to hound on”), from ā- + bǣtan (“to bait”), from the same source (Proto-Germanic *baitijaną). See also bait, bet.

Synonyms

collude conspire connive approve patronize sanction support tolerate instigate foment encourage abet actuate goose light a fire under send sting bring about cheer draw drive egg on engender evoke excite goad grill ignite impel incite induce inflame invoke lash motive motivate move obligate oblige push promote prompt provoke rouse set off spark off spur spur on stimulate stir stir up stoke tempt urge whet whip up

Antonyms

baffle confound counteract denounce deter behedge blunt crimp delay difficult diminish forestay interfere intervene forslow frustrate get in the way hamper handicap hinder hold up hurt impair impede incommode lessen let mar obstruct overslaugh preclude prevene prevent prohibit reduce restrict retard slow down stay stymie thwart thwarten umbeset undermine weaken worsen

Derived words

abetment abettal abettance abettee abetter abettor aid and abet unabetted
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