Would not the fool abet the stealth,
Who rashly thus exposed his wealth? Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense. [ Obs. ].

Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission of an offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate; countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support; sustain; back; connive at. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The simplest rudiments; elements. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very alphabet of our law. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deaf and dumb alphabet. See Dactylology. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Literal. [ Obs. ] “Alphabetical servility.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. in alphabetical order.
Syn. -- abecedarian [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. To furnish with an alphabet. [ 1913 Webster ]

En barbette,
In barbette, said of guns when they are elevated so as to fire over the top of a parapet, and not through embrasures. --
Barbette gun, or
Barbette battery, a single gun, or a number of guns, mounted in barbette, or partially protected by a parapet or turret. --
Barbette carriage, a gun carriage which elevates guns sufficiently to be in barbette. [ See Illust. of Casemate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it. O. W. Holmes. [ 1913 Webster ]

To go bet, to go fast; to hurry. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To have recourse to; to apply; to resort; to go; -- with a reflexive pronoun. [ 1913 Webster ]

They betook themselves to treaty and submission. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rest, in imitation, to like arms
Betook them. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To commend or intrust to; to commit to. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To allow; to permit; to suffer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So loving to my mother,
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A place of worship; a hallowed spot. S. F. Adams. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A chapel for dissenters. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A house of worship for seamen. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have bethought me of another fault. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The rest . . . may . . . bethink themselves, and recover. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

We bethink a means to break it off. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To recollect; remember; reflect. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made. Audsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of an extinct English order of monks. [ 1913 Webster ]

What will betide the few ? Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A salve for any sore that may betide. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Shakespeare has used it with of. “What would betide of me ?” [ 1913 Webster ]

To measure life learn thou betimes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

To rise betimes is often harder than to do all the day's work. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a short time; soon; speedily; forth with. [ 1913 Webster ]

He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow . . .
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that which is seen or known; as, a dark cloud often betokens a storm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To presage; portend; indicate; mark; note. [ 1913 Webster ]