also 4 abette, 6 abbet. [a. OFr. abeter, f. à to + beter to bait, hound on; prob. ad. Norse beita to cause to bite, hence to ‘bait,’ to hound on dogs, etc.; causal of bíta to bite.]
† 1. To urge on, stimulate (a person to do something). Obs.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5816. Bot if he þanne wold take fulloȝt, As he hym wolde abette.
1587. Fleming, Cont. of Holinsh., III. 1579/2. The Scottish queene did not onelie advise them, but also direct, comfort, and abbet them, with persuasion, counsell, promise of reward, and earnest obtestation.
2. esp. in a bad sense: To incite, instigate, or encourage (a person, to commit an offence (obs.), or in a crime or offence). In legal and general use.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., II. ii. 172. Abetting him to thwart me in my moode.
a. 1593. H. Smith, Wks. (1867), II. 429. He will not only pardon without exception, but he will abet them in their damnable courses.
1658–9. Mr. Scott, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 36. Are those fit to have a parliamentary authority, that will undertake to abet the single person to levy taxes without you?
1770. Burke, Pres. Discon., Wks. II. 259. He abets a faction that is driving hard to the ruin of his country.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. To abet…. In our law signifies to encourage or set on.
1866. Kingsley, Hereward, xviii. 219. The two regents abetted the ill-doers.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 113. To abet them against their sovereign.
† 3. To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, any cause, opinion, or action. Obs. in a good sense.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 64. Then shall I soone … abett that virgins cause disconsolate.
1603. Drayton, Heroical Epist. (1619), xvi. 29. Who moves the Norman to abet our Warre?
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 26. No farther to abet their opinions then as they are supported by solid reason.
1649. Milton, Eikon., Wks. 1738, I. 387. The Parlament … had more confidence to abet and own what Sir John Hotham had done.
1725. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., § 2. 31. That which demands next to be considered … as abetting the cause of truth.
4. esp. in a bad sense: To encourage, instigate, countenance a crime or offence, or anything disapproved of.
1775. Continental Congress, 6 Dec., in Amer. Archives (1840), 1945. Whatever punishment shall be inflicted upon any persons in the power of our enemies, for favouring, aiding, or abetting the cause of American liberty, shall be retaliated in the same kind and the same degree upon those in our power, who have favoured, aided, or abetted, or shall favour, aid, or abet, the system of ministerial oppression.
1779. Johnson, L. P., Dryden, II. 367. He abetted vice and vanity only with his pen.
1786. Burke, Warren Hastings, Wks. 1842, II. 214. To abet, encourage, and support the dangerous projects of the presidency of Bombay.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 36. Having abetted the western insurrection.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 286. The invasion was aided and abetted by Richard’s subjects.
† 5. To back up one’s forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to BET. Obs.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Travels, Ded., Wks. III. 76. I doe (out of mine own cognition) auerre and abett that he is senselesse.
