Abet
/əˈbɛt/noun
To encourage or help someone, especially in doing something wrong or illegal.
Did you know?In medieval English, abet could mean to incite or urge on, and the word’s history is tied to the idea of “baiting” someone into action rather than simply assisting them.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*baitaną
“to bite, bait, or entice”
Old French
OF
abeter
“to urge on, incite, or bait”
Middle English
ME
abetten
“to incite, instigate, or encourage”
14th Century
English
abet
“to urge or support, especially in wrongdoing”
Modern English
English
abet
“to help or encourage someone, especially in a crime or bad act”