ABETTOR

abettor, abetter

(noun) one who helps or encourages or incites another

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

abettor (plural abettors)

One that abets an offender; one that incites; instigates; encourages. [First attested from 1350 to 1470.]

A supporter or advocate. [Late 16th century.]

Synonyms

• accessory

• accomplice

• advocate

• aid

• ally

• assistant

• confederate

• cooperator

• helper

Usage notes

• Abettor is usually used in a legal sense.

• 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.

• (supporter): Nowadays it usually refers to a reprehensible act that is supported.

Anagrams

• taboret

Source: Wiktionary


A*bet"ter, A*bet*tor, n.

Definition: One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.

Note: The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use.

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

2 May 2025

MINESHAFT

(noun) excavation consisting of a vertical or sloping passageway for finding or mining ore or for ventilating a mine


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

coffee icon