abet
Verb
UK: /əˈbɛt/
US: /əˈbɛt/
Definition
Abet means to help or encourage someone to do something, especially if it’s not a good thing.
To abet means to assist, encourage, or support someone in committing a wrongdoing or illegal act. It implies an active role in helping someone achieve or carry out a misdeed.
Abet means to help or encourage someone to do something, especially if it's not a good thing to do.
Examples and Usage
▶️ Helping or Encouraging
Example: If you help your friend sneak into the movie without a ticket, you are abetting them.
- Explanation: In this sentence, "abet" means you are helping your friend do something wrong.
Example: The cat tried to abet the kitten in playing with the broken toy.
- Explanation: Here, "abet" means the cat was helping or encouraging the kitten to play with the toy, even though it might not be a good idea.
Example: If you help your friend take toys without asking, you are abetting them.
- Explanation: In this sentence, "abet" means you are helping your friend do something that is not right.
Example: If you cheer someone on to climb a tree when you know it’s dangerous, you are abetting them.
- Explanation: Here, "abet" means you are encouraging someone to do something that might not be safe.
▶️ Assisting or Encouraging Wrongdoing
Example: The accomplice was charged with abetting the criminal by providing crucial information about the bank's security system.
- Explanation: In this sentence, "abet" means that the accomplice helped or encouraged the criminal in committing the crime.
Example: By failing to report the illegal activities of his colleague, he was seen as abetting the crime.
- Explanation: Here, "abet" implies that his inaction contributed to or supported the continuation of illegal activities.
How to Use "Abet"
When talking about helping or encouraging someone to do something:
☑️Example: He didn’t want to abet his friend in taking cookies without asking.
- Subject: He
- Predicate: didn’t want to abet his friend in taking cookies without asking
- "didn’t want" (verb phrase)
- "to abet his friend" (infinitive phrase explaining what he didn’t want to do)
- "in taking cookies without asking" (prepositional phrase explaining the action)
☑️Example: The teacher told the students not to abet anyone in breaking the rules.
- Subject: The teacher
- Predicate: told the students not to abet anyone in breaking the rules
- "told" (verb)
- "the students" (object)
- "not to abet anyone in breaking the rules" (infinitive phrase explaining the advice)
☑️Example: If you help your brother eat cookies before dinner, you are abetting him.
- Subject: You
- Predicate: help your brother eat cookies before dinner
- "help" (verb)
- "your brother" (object)
- "eat cookies before dinner" (infinitive phrase explaining what is being helped)
☑️Example: She tried not to abet her friend in making a mess in the room.
- Subject: She
- Predicate: tried not to abet her friend in making a mess in the room
- "tried" (verb)
- "not to abet" (infinitive phrase explaining what she tried not to do)
- "her friend in making a mess in the room" (prepositional phrase explaining the action)
Detailed Usage
When discussing involvement in aiding or encouraging wrongful actions:
☑️Example: The lawyer was accused of abetting his client’s attempts to evade taxes through fraudulent schemes.
- Subject: The lawyer
- Predicate: was accused of abetting his client’s attempts to evade taxes through fraudulent schemes
- "was accused" (verb)
- "of abetting" (prepositional phrase explaining the accusation)
- "his client’s attempts to evade taxes through fraudulent schemes" (noun phrase describing the action)
☑️Example: The whistleblower’s testimony revealed that several executives had abetted the company's fraudulent activities.
- Subject: The whistleblower’s testimony
- Predicate: revealed that several executives had abetted the company's fraudulent activities
- "revealed" (verb)
- "that several executives had abetted" (noun clause explaining what was revealed)
- "the company's fraudulent activities" (noun phrase describing the wrongdoing)
More Examples
☑️Example: The dog didn’t want to abet the puppy in chewing on the shoes.
- Explanation: The dog didn’t want to help or encourage the puppy to do something that’s not good.
☑️Example: She tried not to abet her brother in making a mess in the kitchen.
- Explanation: She didn’t want to help or encourage her brother to do something that would make a mess.
☑️Example: The teenager was charged with abetting a robbery after helping the suspects plan the heist.
- Explanation: The teenager helped or encouraged the robbery, leading to legal charges.
☑️Example: They were found guilty of abetting tax evasion by helping their clients falsify records.
- Explanation: They assisted in illegal tax evasion by aiding in falsifying records.
☑️Example: The dog did not want to abet the puppy in chewing on the furniture.
- Explanation: The dog did not want to help or encourage the puppy to do something that’s not good.
☑️Example: He didn't abet his friend in breaking the rules by playing with the forbidden toys.
- Explanation: He didn’t help or encourage his friend to break the rules.
Contextual Notes
"Abet" is often used in legal contexts to describe involvement in criminal activities. It implies a degree of active participation or support that contributes to the commission of a crime or wrongful act. The term is associated with legal responsibility and ethical implications in aiding or encouraging illicit actions.
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