suborn

Borrowed from Latin subōrnō.

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

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.

   • 1981, Donald Kagan, The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition:

     The informer Diocleides was hailed as savior of the city, crowned with a wreath, and taken in honor to the Prytaneum where he dined at public expense. In their excitement and gratitude the Athenians noted neither his attempt to suborn a bribe nor his delay in seeking public safety.

• subornation
• subornative
• suborner

• Bourns, Burson, bourns, burons