▪ I. abet, v.
(əˈbɛt)
Also 4 abette, 6 abbet.
[a. OFr. abeter, f. à to + beter to bait, hound on; prob. ad. Norse beita to cause to bite, hence to ‘bait,’ to hound on dogs, etc.; causal of b{iacu}ta to bite.]
† 1. To urge on, stimulate (a person to do something). Obs.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 5816 Bot if he þanne wold take fulloȝt, As he hym wolde abette. 1587 Fleming Cont. of Holinsh. III. 1579/2 The Scottish queene did not onelie advise them, but also direct, comfort, and abbet them, with persuasion, counsell, promise of reward, and earnest obtestation. |
2. esp. in a bad sense: To incite, instigate, or encourage (a person, to commit an offence (obs.), or in a crime or offence). In legal and general use.
| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 172 Abetting him to thwart me in my moode. a 1593 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 429 He will not only pardon without exception, but he will abet them in their damnable courses. 1658–9 Mr. Scott in Burton's Diary (1828) IV. 36 Are those fit to have a parliamentary authority, that will undertake to abet the single person to levy taxes without you? 1770 Burke Pres. Discon. Wks. II. 259 He abets a faction that is driving hard to the ruin of his country. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. To abet..in our law signifies to encourage or set on. 1866 Kingsley Hereward xviii. 219 The two regents abetted the ill-doers. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. III. xii. 113 To abet them against their sovereign. |
† 3. To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, any cause, opinion, or action. Obs. in a good sense.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. i. x. 64 Then shall I soone..abett that virgins cause disconsolate. 1603 Drayton Heroical Epist. (1619) xvi. 29 Who moves the Norman to abet our Warre? 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 26 No farther to abet their opinions then as they are supported by solid reason. 1649 Milton Eikon. Wks. 1738, I. 387 The Parlament..had more confidence to abet and own what Sir John Hotham had done. 1725 Wollaston Relig. Nat. §2. 31 That which demands next to be considered..as abetting the cause of truth. |
4. esp. in a bad sense: To encourage, instigate, countenance a crime or offence, or anything disapproved of.
| 1779 Johnson L.P. Dryden II. 367 He abetted vice and vanity only with his pen. 1786 Burke Warren Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 214 To abet, encourage, and support the dangerous projects of the presidency of Bombay. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 36 Having abetted the western insurrection. 1876 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. v. 286 The invasion was aided and abetted by Richard's subjects. |
† 5. To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet. Obs.
| 1630 Taylor (Water P.) Travels, Ded. Wks. iii. 76 I doe (out of mine own cognition) auerre and abett that he is senselesse. |
▪ II. † abet, n. Obs.
[a. OFr. abet instigation, wile, trickery; f. abeter: see abet v. Cf. med. law L. abettum, f. Fr. abet.]
1. Fraud, cunning, wiles.
| c 1315 Shoreham 58 Hyt was God self that spousynge ferst · In Paradys sette; The fend hyt was that schente hyt all · Myd gyle and hys abette. 1460 Pol. Rel. & Love Poems (1866) 63 Loue is subtille, and hath a grete abaite. |
2. Instigation, aid, encouragement (of an offence); abetment.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 356 I am thyn eme, the shame were to me, As wel as thee, if I shold assent, Thurgh myn abet, that he thine honour shent. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. iii. 11 Lo! faitour, there thy meede unto thee take, The meede of thy mischalenge and abet. |