abets

Verb

abet (third-person singular simple present abets, present participle abetting, simple past and past participle abetted)

1. (transitive, crime) To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.
   • aid and abet

   Synonyms:

   collude, conspire, connive

2. (transitive) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action).
   • Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted.a. 1667, Jeremy Taylor, edited by George Rust, The whole works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, published 1835

   Synonyms:

   approve, patronize, sanction, support, tolerate

3. (obsolete, transitive) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.

   Synonyms:

   instigate, foment, encourage, support, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send, sting

   Antonyms:

   baffle, confound, counteract, denounce, deter, behedge, blunt, crimp, foreclose, delay

4. (obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.

See all 6 meanings of abet