v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abetted p. pr. & vb. n. Abetting. ] [ OF. abeter; a (L. ad) + beter to bait (as a bear), fr. Icel. beita to set dogs on, to feed, originally, to cause to bite, fr. Icel. bīta to bite, hence to bait, to incite. See Bait, Bet. ] 1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. “The whole tribe abets the villany.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Would not the fool abet the stealth,
Who rashly thus exposed his wealth? Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense. [ Obs. ].

Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. abet, fr. abeter. ] Act of abetting; aid. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of abetting; as, an abetment of treason, crime, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Abetment. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Abettor, Accessory, Accomplice. These words denote different degrees of complicity in some deed or crime. An abettor is one who incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance. An accessory supposes a principal offender. One who is neither the chief actor in an offense, nor present at its performance, but accedes to or becomes involved in its guilt, either by some previous or subsequent act, as of instigating, encouraging, aiding, or concealing, etc., is an accessory. An accomplice is one who participates in the commission of an offense, whether as principal or accessory. Thus in treason, there are no abettors or accessories, but all are held to be principals or accomplices. [ 1913 Webster ]