bribe

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old French briber (go begging).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • enPR: brīb, IPA(key): /bɹaɪb/
  • Rhymes: -aɪb
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

bribe (plural bribes)

  1. Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
    • c. 1613-1625, Henry Hobart, Yardly v. Ellill
      Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe.
  2. That which seduces; seduction; allurement.

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

bribe (third-person singular simple present bribes, present participle bribing, simple past and past participle bribed)

  1. (transitive) To give a bribe to; specifically, to ask a person to do something against his/her original will, in exchange for some type of reward or relief from potential trouble.
    She was accused of trying to bribe the jury into making false statements.
    • October 23, 1848, Frederick William Robertson, an address delivered at the Opening of The Working Men's Institute
      Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.
  2. (transitive) To gain by a bribe; to induce as by a bribe.
    to bribe somebody's compliance

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Imitative. (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?)

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

bribe f (plural bribes)

  1. (obsolete) crumb (of bread)
  2. scrap, bit

Further reading[edit]