Abetted: meaning, definitions and examples

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abetted

 

[ əˈbɛtɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Abetted refers to the act of encouraging or assisting someone in committing a crime or wrongdoing. This term is often used in legal circumstances where an individual may not have directly committed a crime but provided support or help to the person who did. Abetting can involve a variety of actions, including providing information, resources, or emotional support. The degree of criminal liability for abetting varies by jurisdiction but generally holds the abettor accountable to some extent for the principal offense.

Synonyms

assisted, enabled, encouraged, facilitated, supported

Examples of usage

  • He was charged with abetting the robbery.
  • The accomplice abetted the escape plan.
  • She was accused of abetting her partner's drug activities.

Translations

Translations of the word "abetted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 instigado

🇮🇳 प्रोत्साहित

🇩🇪 angestiftet

🇮🇩 mendorong

🇺🇦 підбурений

🇵🇱 podżegany

🇯🇵 唆された

🇫🇷 incité

🇪🇸 incitado

🇹🇷 kışkırtılmış

🇰🇷 부추긴

🇸🇦 التحريض

🇨🇿 podněcovaný

🇸🇰 podnecovanie

🇨🇳 唆使

🇸🇮 spodbujal

🇮🇸 hvetja

🇰🇿 үндеуші

🇬🇪 აღძრული

🇦🇿 tətiklənmiş

🇲🇽 incitado

Word origin

The word 'abetted' is derived from the Old French term 'abeter', which means to bait or incite. This term traces back to the Latin word 'ab-,' meaning away from, and 'attare,' meaning to attack or assail. Its original connotation was to assist or incite someone to perform an action. In English usage, the term started appearing in legal contexts around the late 14th century, with a clear focus on criminal behavior. Over time, the definition has evolved to encompass not just aiding criminal acts but also any form of support that leads to wrongdoing. The transition from a general sense of supporting someone to the specific legal implications signifies the complexity of moral and legal accountability inherent in the act of abetting.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,263, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.