abet

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*baitijaną
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰeyd-“to split”
3. Proto-Germanic · derived from*baitijaną“to cause to bite”
4. Old Norse · derived frombeita“to cause to bite, bait, incite”
5. Middle Dutch · derived frombētan“incite”
6. Old French · derived fromabeter“to entice”
7. Middle English · inherited fromabetten
8. English todayabet

From Middle English abetten, abette, from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”), either from Middle Dutch bētan (“incite”) or from Old Norse beita (“to cause to bite, bait, incite”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną (“to cause to bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to split”). Cognate with Icelandic beita (“to set dogs on; to feed”). Alternate etymology traces the Middle English and Old French words through Old English *ābǣtan (“to hound on”), from ā- + bǣtan (“to bait”), from the same source (Proto-Germanic *baitijaną). See also bait, bet.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• ca. 1350–1470 To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.
• late 16th c. To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action).
• late 14th–early 17th c. To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.
• mid 12th–mid 14th c. Fraud or cunning.
• ca. 1350–1470 An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid.