suborn Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Sub*orn" transitive verb
Etymology
F. suborner, L. subornare; sub under, secretly + ornare to furnish, provide, equip, adorn. See Ornament.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Suborned ; present participle & verbal noun Suborning
Definitions
  1. (Law) To procure or cause to take a false oath amounting to perjury, such oath being actually taken. Sir W. O. Russell.
  2. To procure privately, or by collusion; to procure by indirect means; to incite secretly; to instigate.
    Thou art suborned against his honor. Shak.
    Those who by despair suborn their death. Dryden.

Webster 1913