suborn

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin subōrnō.

Pronunciation

• (rhotic) IPA^(key): /səˈbɔːɹn/
• (non-rhotic) IPA^(key): /səˈbɔːn/

Verb

suborn (third-person singular simple present suborns, present participle suborning, simple past and past participle suborned)

1. (transitive) To induce to commit an unlawful or malicious act, or to commit perjury [16th c.]

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir W. O. Russell to this entry?)

2. (transitive) To procure privately, or by collusion; to incite secretly; to instigate.
   • William Shakespeare

     Thou art suborned against his honour.

   • John Dryden

     Those who by despair suborn their death.

Anagrams

• Bourns, Burson, bourns, burons