 4 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
abet
verb: assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
[also: {abetting}, {abetted}]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Abet \A*bet"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Abetted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Abetting}.] [OF. abeter; a (L. ad) + beter to bait (as a
bear), fr. Icel. beita to set dogs on, to feed, originally,
to cause to bite, fr. Icel. b[=i]ta to bite, hence to bait,
to incite. See {Bait}, {Bet}.]
1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used
in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an
ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice;
to abet an insurrection. ''The whole tribe abets the
villany.'' --South.
Would not the fool abet the stealth,
Who rashly thus exposed his wealth? --Gay.
2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good
sense. [Obs.].
Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.
--Jer. Taylor.
3. (Law) To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the
commission of an offense.
Syn: To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate;
countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist;
support; sustain; back; connive at.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Abet \A*bet"\, noun [OF. abet, fr. abeter.]
Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
82 Moby Thesaurus words for "abet":
advance, advocate, aid, aid and abet, approve of, ask for, assist,
avail, bail out, bear a hand, befriend, benefit, comfort, condone,
countenance, do for, do good, doctor, ease, egg, egg on, embolden,
encourage, endorse, exhort, favor, feed, foment, foster, further,
give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give encouragement,
give help, go for, goad, hearten, help, help out, incite,
instigate, invite, keep in countenance, lend a hand, lend one aid,
nourish, nurture, prod, proffer aid, promote, protect, provoke,
raise, rally, reclaim, redeem, relieve, remedy, render assistance,
rescue, restore, resuscitate, revive, sanction, save, second, set,
set on, set up, shine upon, smile upon, spur, stead, stir up,
subscribe, succor, support, take in tow, uphold, urge, whip up
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