Suborn

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Suborn \Sub*orn"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Suborned}; p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Suborning}.] [F. suborner, L. subornare; sub under,
     secretly + ornare to furnish, provide, equip, adorn. See
     {Ornament}.]
     1. (Law) To procure or cause to take a false oath amounting
        to perjury, such oath being actually taken. --Sir W. O.


        Russell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To procure privately, or by collusion; to procure by
        indirect means; to incite secretly; to instigate.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Thou art suborned against his honor.  --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Those who by despair suborn their death. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  suborn
       v 1: incite to commit a crime or an evil deed; "He suborned his
            butler to cover up the murder of his wife"
       2: procure (false testimony or perjury)
       3: induce to commit perjury or give false testimony; "The
          President tried to suborn false witnesses"