Hyphenation
a·betTurkish pronunciation
ıbetSynonyms
incite,
instigate,
set on,
egg on,
foment,
advocate,
countenance,
encourage,
second,
uphold,
aid,
assist,
support,
sustain,
backPronunciation
/əˈbet/ /əˈbɛt/
Etymology
[ &-'bet ] (transitive verb.) 14th century. From Middle English abetten, from Old French abeter, from à- + beter (“to bait an animal”), of Germanic origin, from Old Norse beita (“to cause to bite, bait, incite”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijanan (“to cause to bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *bheid- (“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 Proto-Germanic source. See also bait, bet.