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to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually in wrongdoing:
to abet a swindler; to abet a crime.
Contemporary Examples

James Carroll on how the Catholic Church aided and abetted the offenders.
The Vatican’s Sex Cover-up James Carroll March 10, 2010

It has deepened with each passing year, as successive governments have aided and abetted the settlement enterprise.
Israel’s Less-Than-Resilient Democracy Lara Friedman April 9, 2012

Forget about the Second Amendment—the gun lobby, abetted by timorous Republicans, is trying to privatize law and order.
Pro-Gun Absolutism: The Gun Lobby’s Push to Privatize Law and Order Will Marshall April 8, 2013

abetted by the government, the rioters burned 50 Jewish shops, five schools, 18 synagogues and an unknown number of homes.
The Jewish Nakba David Frum May 18, 2012

Christine Pelisek on how Catherine Greig abetted Bulger—and how the cops used her to help bring him down.
Whitey Bulger’s Wily Girl Christine Pelisek June 26, 2011

Historical Examples

And in this, he was ably aided and abetted by Reddy, the college trainer.
Bert Wilson’s Twin Cylinder Racer J. W. Duffield

You have abetted him in it, and very kind of you it was to do so.
Barnaby Rudge Charles Dickens

It looks like the five of us have abetted an invasion from Mars.
The Dope on Mars John Michael Sharkey

Their being aided and abetted by Lysander was sufficient; he sent them away discomfited.
Hellenica Xenophon

In this latter occupation they were aided and abetted by a number of the native Californians.
Gold Stewart White

verb abets, abetting, abetted
(transitive) to assist or encourage, esp in crime or wrongdoing
v.

late 14c. (implied in abetting), from Old French abeter “to bait, to harass with dogs,” literally “to cause to bite,” from a- “to” (see ad-) + beter “to bait,” from a Germanic source, perhaps Low Franconian betan “incite,” or Old Norse beita “cause to bite,” from Proto-Germanic *baitjan, from PIE root *bheid- “to split” (see fissure). Related: Abetted; abetting.