abet
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: авет
Contents
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English abetten, abette, from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”), from either Middle Dutch bētan (“incite”), or from Old Norse beita (“to cause to bite, bait, incite”)[1], from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną (“to cause to bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *bheid- (“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 Proto-Germanic source.
- See also bait, bet.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
abet (third-person singular simple present abets, present participle abetting, simple past and past participle abetted)
- (obsolete, transitive) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) (1390) until the early 17th century.][2]
- (transitive) To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).][3]
- 1823, Ringan Gilhaize, The covenanters, by the author of Annals of the parish:
- Those who would exalt themselves by abetting the strength of the Godless, and the wrength of the oppressors.
- 1823, Ringan Gilhaize, The covenanters, by the author of Annals of the parish:
- (transitive, archaic) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid any good cause, opinion, or action; to maintain. [First attested in the late 16th century.][3]
- 1835, Jeremy Taylor, George Rust, The whole works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor:
- Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
- 1835, Jeremy Taylor, George Rust, The whole works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor:
- (obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.
Quotations[edit]
- For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.
Synonyms[edit]
- (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.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
to assist or encourage in crime
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to support, uphold, or aid
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Noun[edit]
abet (plural abets)
- (obsolete) Fraud or cunning. [First attested from 1150 to 1350.][3]
- (obsolete) An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid. [First attested from 1350 to 1470.][3]
Anagrams[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], ISBN 0550142304), page 2
- ^ Elliott K. Dobbie, C. William Dunmore, Robert K. Barnhart, et al. (editors), Chambers Dictionary of Etymology (Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2004 [1998], ISBN 0550142304), page 6
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lesley Brown (editor), The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, 5th edition (Oxford University Press, 2003 [1933], ISBN 978-0-19-860575-7), page 4
Danish[edit]
Verb[edit]
abet
- past participle of abe
Lombard[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin habitus (“habit, appearance”).
Noun[edit]
abet m
- religious habit (clothing)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Middle Dutch
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms with audio links
- English verbs
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English transitive verbs
- English archaic terms
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- Danish verb forms
- Danish past participles
- Lombard terms derived from Latin
- Lombard nouns
- lmo:Clothing
- lmo:Religion
