n. [ F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap of bread; cf. OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to beg, and OHG. bilibi food. ] 1. A gift begged; a present. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, voter, or other person in a position of trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe. Hobart. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which seduces; seduction; allurement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these ever&unr_;blooming sweets. Akenside. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bribed p. pr. & vb. n. Bribing. ] 1. To rob or steal. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give or promise a reward or consideration to (a judge, juror, legislator, voter, or other person in a position of trust) with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to induce or influence by a bribe; to give a bribe to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience. F. W. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To gain by a bribe; of induce as by a bribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To commit robbery or theft. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a bribe to a person; to pervert the judgment or corrupt the action of a person in a position of trust, by some gift or promise. [ 1913 Webster ]

An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be criminal, and the offender may be indicted. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Incapable of being bribed; free from bribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

From thence to heaven's bribeless hall. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A thief. [ Obs. ] Lydgate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who bribes, or pays for corrupt practices. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which bribes; a bribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

His service . . . were a sufficient briber for his life. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Briberies [ OE. brybery rascality, OF. briberie. See Bribe, n. ] 1. Robbery; extortion. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act or practice of giving or taking bribes; the act of influencing the official or political action of another by corrupt inducements. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bribery oath, an oath taken by a person that he has not been bribed as to voting. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]