abetments
|a-bet-ments|
C1
/əˈbɛtmənts/
(abetment)
encouragement in wrongdoing
Etymology
Etymology Information
'abetment' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'abeter,' where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'beter' meant 'to bait or incite.'
Historical Evolution
'abeter' transformed into the Middle English word 'abette,' and eventually became the modern English word 'abetment.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to incite or encourage,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'encouraging or assisting in wrongdoing.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act of encouraging or assisting someone to do something wrong, especially to commit a crime.
The abetments of the crime were discovered during the investigation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/01 06:21