Definition of 'abet'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense abets
, present participle abetting
, past tense, past participle abetted
1. verb
2. verb
[journalism, or formal, disapproval]
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
abet in British English
verbWord forms: abets, abetting, abetted
(transitive)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
abetment (aˈbetment) or abettal (aˈbettal) noun
abetter (aˈbetter) or especially law abettor (aˈbettor)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French abeter to lure on, entice, from beter to bait
Word Frequency
abet in American English
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
abetment (aˈbetment)
noun
abettor (aˈbettor)
noun or aˈbetter
Word Frequency
abet in American English
(əˈbet)
transitive verbWord forms: abetted, abetting
SYNONYMS help, aid, assist; promote.ANTONYMS hinder, discourage.to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually in wrongdoing
to abet a swindler
to abet a crime
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
abetment abettal noun
Word origin
[1275–1325; ME abette (whence OF abeter, unless perh. the latter, of Gmc orig., be the source for the ME), OE *ābǣtan to hound on, equiv. to ā- a-3 + bǣtan to bait, akin to bite]Examples of 'abet' in a sentence
abet
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
abet
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Browse alphabetically
abet
Source
Definition of abet from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
FLOWERS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
iris
chrysanthemum
orchid
dandelion
FLOWERS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
daffodil
iris
chrysanthemum
dahlia
Your score:
Word of the day
Ravenna
a city and port in NE Italy, in Emilia-Romagna : capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 to 476, of the Ostrogoths from 493 to 526, and of the Byzantine exarchate from 584 to 751; famous for its ancient mosaics . Pop: 134 631 (2001)
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
BIRDS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
ostrich
magpie
robin
gull
BIRDS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
swan
magpie
pigeon
penguin
Your score:
Learrning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Learning English: Making a phone call
Ease your nerves with these helpful phrases for English phone calls. From introductions to inquiries, master effective communication.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more