bribe
[brahyb]
- money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person, especially in that person's performance as an athlete, public official, etc.: The motorist offered the arresting officer a bribe to let him go.
- anything given or serving to persuade or induce: The children were given candy as a bribe to be good.
- to give or promise a bribe to: They bribed the reporter to forget about what he had seen.
- to influence or corrupt by a bribe: The judge was too honest to be bribed.
- to give a bribe; practice bribery.
Origin of bribe
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French: remnant of food given as alms, said to be < an expressive base *bri(m)b- denoting something small
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bribing
Contemporary Examples
His usual trick: bribing the night watchman to let him into the bank.
Two charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office (bribing officials) ranging from 2004 to 2012.
In the late 1980s several generic-drug companies were caught fabricating data and bribing FDA officials to gain approval.
The attorney scoffs at the idea that Gristina avoided arrest for so many years by bribing the police.
Historical Examples
Now she was alternately wheedling, cursing, coaxing, bribing; all to no purpose.
Waring's PerilCharles King
The idea of bribing her with an emerald pendant shocked him profoundly.
Lady BountifulGeorge A. Birmingham
I knew that I had done wrong in bribing a servant, but I was not a bit sorry for it.
The Crime of Sylvestre BonnardAnatole France
They are bribing me; they are positively bribing me, Richie.
The Adventures of Harry Richmond, CompleteGeorge Meredith
When it came to the point, and any bribing was to be done, I had hit upon a course.
The Celebrity, CompleteWinston Churchill
bribe
- to promise, offer, or give something, usually money, to (a person) to procure services or gain influence, esp illegally
- a reward, such as money or favour, given or offered for this purpose
- any persuasion or lure
- a length of flawed or damaged cloth removed from the main piece
Word Origin
C14: from Old French briber to beg, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for bribing
bribe
n.
late 14c., "thing stolen," from Old French bribe "bit, piece, hunk; morsel of bread given to beggars" (14c., cf. Old French bribeor "vagrant, beggar"), from briber, brimber "to beg," a general Romanic word (Gamillscheg marks it as Rotwelsch, i.e. "thieves' jargon"), of uncertain origin; old sources suggest Celtic (cf. Breton breva "to break"). Shift of meaning to "gift given to influence corruptly" is by mid-15c.
bribe
v.
late 14c., "pilfer, steal," also "practice extortion," from Old French briber "go begging," from bribe (see bribe (n.)). Related: Bribed; bribing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper