Find the word definition

Crossword clues for abetted

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abetted

Abet \A*bet"\, v. t. [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.

Wiktionary
abetted

vb. (en-past of: abet)

WordNet
abet
  1. v. assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing

  2. [also: abetting, abetted]

abetted

See abet

Usage examples of "abetted".

When treason was abetted by stupidity, venality, and petty bickering, he saw the patriot's duty as clear: to scratch and claw and connive one's way to the place where one's personal abilities could make the vital difference.

Clearly you have aided and abetted a traitor to escape justice, and you will be remanded.

On top of all this he sees fit to tell me about a laboratory assistant -- not a nurse, for once -- who was accused of giving herself an abortion, perhaps abetted by one of the interns.

Aided and abetted by a society clinging to its medieval concepts for dear life, they forced him to suicide.

I consider this book essentially a tale of one woman's struggle to find her best self and truly be all she can be, aided and abetted by one man's faith in and love for her.

To add to his problems Maud, then ten, had identified her father with Mr McGregor and had aided and abetted the rabbits to escape.