different between embolden vs abet

English

Etymology

em- +? bold +? -en

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?b??ld?n/

  Rhymes: -??ld?n

Verb

embolden (third-person singular simple present emboldens, present participle emboldening, simple past and past participle emboldened)

1. (transitive) To render (someone) bolder or more courageous.
   • 2020, William H. Greene, Econometric Analysis, Pearson, p. 334

     The author lamented that the power of techniques involving instrumental variables and natural experiments to uncover causal relationships had emboldened economists to venture into areas far from their traditional expertise [...].

2. (transitive) To encourage, inspire, or motivate.
3. (transitive, typography) To format text in boldface.

   Synonym: boldface

Translations

References

English

Etymology

From Middle English abetten, abette, from Old French abeter (“to entice”), from a- (“to”) + beter (“hound on, urge, to bait”), either from Middle Dutch b?tan (“incite”) or from Old Norse beita (“to cause to bite, bait, incite”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijan? (“to cause to bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *b?eyd- (“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 *?b?tan (“to hound on”), from ?- + b?tan (“to bait”), from the same Proto-Germanic [Term?] source.

See also bait, bet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??b?t/
• Rhymes: -?t

Verb

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

1. (obsolete, transitive) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable. [from end of 14th century to early 17th century]
2. (transitive) To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime. [from c. 1350-1470]
   • 2017 September 27, David Browne, "Hugh Hefner, 'Playboy' Founder, Dead at 91," Rolling Stone

     By the early Seventies, Playboy was selling seven million copies a month and Hefner's globe-trotting lifestyle was abetted by his private jet, the Big Bunny, that contained a circular bed, an inside disco and a wet bar.
3. (transitive, archaic) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid (any good cause, opinion, or action); to maintain. [from late 16th century]
4. (obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:abet.

Synonyms

• (to instigate or encourage by aid or countenance): incite, instigate, set on, egg on, foment, advocate, countenance, encourage, second, uphold, aid, assist, support, sustain, back, connive at, promote, sanction, advocate, embolden, favor, cooperate with

Antonyms

• baffle
• confound
• contradict
• counteract
• denounce
• deter
• disapprove
• disconcert
• discourage
• dissuade
• expose
• frustrate
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• thwart

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

abet (plural abets)

1. (obsolete) Fraud or cunning. [mid-12th century to mid-14th century]
2. (obsolete) An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid. [from c. 1350-1470]

References

Anagrams

• Bate, Beta, Teba, bate, beat, beta

Aragonese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

abet m

1. fir-tree

References

• Bal Palazios, Santiago (2002) , “abet”, in Dizionario breu de a luenga aragonesa, Zaragoza, ?ISBN

Chamorro

Etymology

From Spanish vamos a ver (“we'll see”)

Phrase

abet

1. An expression of doubt

Danish

Verb

abet

1. past participle of abe

Lombard

Etymology

From Latin habitus (“habit, appearance”).

Noun

abet m

1. religious habit (clothing)