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abet

[ ə-ˈbet]

abet

verb

[ə-ˈbet]

abetted; abetting

Definition of abet

transitive verb

1 : to actively second and encourage (something, such as an activity or plan)
//abet the commission of a crime

2 : to assist or support (someone) in the achievement of a purpose
//The singer was abetted by a skillful accompanist.
especially : to assist, encourage, instigate, or support with criminal intent in attempting or carrying out a crime —often used in the phrase aid and abet
//accused of aiding and abetting a criminal

Other Words from abet

abetment \ ə-ˈbet-mənt \ noun

abettor or less commonly abetter \ ə-ˈbe-tər \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for dainty

incite, instigate, abet, foment mean to spur to action. incite stresses a stirring up and urging on, and may or may not imply initiating.
//inciting a riot instigate definitely implies responsibility for initiating another's action and often connotes underhandedness or evil intention.
//instigated a conspiracy abet implies both assisting and encouraging.
// aiding and abetting the enemy foment implies persistence in goading.
//fomenting rebellion

Recent Examples on the Web

//Cash shortages have been pushing up transaction fees for digital money, leaving analysts divided over the role of mobile money in abetting or worsening the monetary crisis.
— Tawanda Karombo, Quartz Africa, "How to understand why Zimbabwe is bringing back the Zim dollar and the limits of mobile money," 31 Oct. 2019
//The offer requires Warren to plead guilty to a misdemeanor of aiding and abetting with a sentence of time served.
— Rafael Carranza, azcentral, "Federal prosecutors seek retrial of border humanitarian Scott Warren," 2 July 2019
//And the supervisors should be charged with aiding and abetting for serious crimes committed by those set free.
— Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Do illegal immigrants’ rights take priority over our safety?," 10 June 2019
//Salman is charged with aiding and abetting her husband for, prosecutors say, helping him plot the attack.
— Krista Torralva, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Noor Salman's family, raising son since her arrest in Pulse attack, to attend trial," 10 Mar. 2018
//Still, there can be no doubt that factors specific to our modern era are exacerbating our collective unmooring—technological developments that abet the warping of truth and the normalization of lies.
— Seth Fletcher, Scientific American, "Truth, Lies & Uncertainty," 28 Aug. 2019
//Trial attorneys are abetting governments in return for a share of the potential payoff.
— The Editorial Board, WSJ, "The Government Opioid Raid," 28 Jan. 2019
//The previous sanctions, which had been in place since 1997, targeted prominent individuals and companies known to abuse human rights, imprison activists, abet the old military regime, acquire weapons, and pilfer finances.
— Hollie Mckay, Fox News, "Trump administration walking back Obama-era foreign policy mistakes in Burma," 22 Aug. 2018
//The scale of the effort then abets itself, setting up a destructive feedback loop.
— Wade Graham, Smithsonian, "Why Molokai, With All Its Wonders, Is the Least Developed of Hawai’i’s Islands," 31 Aug. 2019

First Known Use of abet

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for abet

Middle English abetten, borrowed from Anglo-French abeter, from a-, prefix in transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + beter "to harass (a bear with dogs), bait," borrowed from Old Low Franconian *bētan; akin to Old English bǣtan "to set upon (with animals), bait" — more at bait entry 1