suborn

[suh-bawrn]

verb (used with object)

to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime.
Law.
1. to induce (a person, especially a witness) to give false testimony.
2. to obtain (false testimony) from a witness.

Origin of suborn

1525–35; < Latin subornāre to instigate secretly, orig., to supply, equivalent to sub- sub- + ornāre to equip; see adorn

Related formssub·or·na·tion

[suhb-awr-ney-shuh n] /ˌsʌb ɔrˈneɪ ʃən/, nounsub·or·na·tive

[suh-bawr-nuh-tiv] /səˈbɔr nə tɪv/, adjectivesub·orn·er, nounun·sub·orned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for subornation

Historical Examples of subornation

How does it concern my nephew's seat in Parlyment: and to subornation of bigamy?
The History of Pendennis
William Makepeace Thackeray
However, we could not prevent the success of all their attempts at subornation.
History of the Commune of 1871
P. Lissagary
If one may judge from the experience of Bougainville, this kind of subornation would be somewhat difficult of accomplishment.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 13
Robert Kerr
The very witnesses suborned to accuse him charged his enemies with subornation of perjury.
History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia
Charles Campbell
This subornation of falsehood appears also to have been known to Mr. Hastings.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. XI. (of 12)
Edmund Burke

British Dictionary definitions for subornation

suborn

verb (tr)

to bribe, incite, or instigate (a person) to commit a wrongful act
criminal law to induce (a witness) to commit perjury

Derived Formssubornation (ˌsʌbɔːˈneɪʃən), nounsubornative (sʌˈbɔːnətɪv), adjectivesuborner, noun

Word Origin for suborn

C16: from Latin subornāre, from sub- secretly + ornāre to furnish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for subornation

suborn

"to procure by bribery, to lure (someone) to commit a crime," 1520s (implied in subornation), from Middle French suborner (13c.), from Latin subornare "suborn," originally "equip," from sub "under, secretly" (see sub-) + ornare "equip," related to ordo "order" (see order). Related: Suborned; suborning.