Suborned Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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suborned
[səˈbɔrn ]
Definition
legal context
To suborn means to bribe someone to commit an unlawful act or to convince someone to do something wrong, often in a legal sense. The term is frequently used in criminal law to refer to the act of persuading or inducing someone to provide false testimony or engage in illegal activities. This act can undermine the integrity of legal proceedings and is taken very seriously within the judicial system.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The lawyer was accused of trying to suborn a witness.
- He was arrested for attempting to suborn his colleague into stealing company secrets.
- The scandal involved officials suborning citizens to perjure themselves.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Law
- Suborning perjury means persuading someone to lie under oath in court, a serious crime.
- Legal systems in many countries consider subornation as both a criminal offense and a form of conspiracy.
Literature
- Shakespeare's works often feature themes of deceit and manipulation, reflecting the concept of suborning in various characters.
- In many classic novels, characters are often suborned to betray others, leading to dramatic twists and moral dilemmas.
Psychology
- Those who are suborned may experience cognitive dissonance, a mental struggle when their actions conflict with their beliefs.
- People are more likely to be suborned if they trust the persuader, highlighting the psychological aspect of influence.
History
- Throughout history, subornation has been employed in political scandals where individuals were persuaded to act against their better judgment.
- Many famous espionage cases involved suborning individuals to gather secrets or sell information against their own country.
Origin of 'suborned'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from Latin 'subornare', meaning 'to secretly furnish' or 'to incite secretly'.
- Its parts: 'sub-' means 'under', and 'ornare' means 'to adorn', suggesting a hidden way of influencing someone.
The word 'suborn' originates from the Latin word 'subornare', which means 'to secretly instruct or bribe'. The term emerged in the English language around the late 14th century. It was used particularly concerning legal matters, relating to the bribery of individuals to achieve a dishonest outcome. Over centuries, the usage of 'suborn' expanded into various legal contexts, retaining its connotation of secretive or underhanded persuasion. Its application has often been associated with conspiracies in legal contexts, highlighting the moral and ethical implications of influencing someone's actions unlawfully. Suborning has remained relevant, particularly in discussions about corruption and integrity within legal systems.