Definition

Noun: - One who helps, encourages, or incites another to commit a crime or wrongdoing: An abettor is a person who aids, supports, or urges on someone else in the commission of an unlawful or reprehensible act.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The getaway driver was charged as an abettor to the robbery.
  • By providing the false documents, she became an abettor in the fraud scheme.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In law, an abettor is often considered an accomplice and can be held criminally liable to a similar degree as the principal offender.
  • The court found him guilty as an abettor to murder.

Variants and Related Words

• Abet (verb): To actively encourage or assist someone in committing a crime or misdeed.
  • He was accused of abetting the criminal's escape.
• Abetment (noun): The act of abetting or encouraging.
  • He was charged with abetment of perjury.

Synonyms

• Accomplice: A partner in a crime.
• Accessory: A person who assists in a crime but is not present during its commission.
• Instigator: One who initiates or urges an action, often a bad one.
• Aider and abettor: A formal legal term for one who assists in a crime.

Idioms and Phrases

• To aid and abet: A common legal and idiomatic phrase meaning to actively and knowingly assist in the commission of a crime.
  • The evidence showed he did more than just watch; he actively aided and abetted the theft.

Noun

1. one who helps or encourages or incites another