suborn
- to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime.
- Law.
- to induce (a person, especially a witness) to give false testimony.
- to obtain (false testimony) from a witness.
Origin of suborn
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 PendennisWilliam Makepeace Thackeray
However, we could not prevent the success of all their attempts at subornation.
History of the Commune of 1871P. Lissagary
If one may judge from the experience of Bougainville, this kind of subornation would be somewhat difficult of accomplishment.
The very witnesses suborned to accuse him charged his enemies with subornation of perjury.
History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of VirginiaCharles Campbell
This subornation of falsehood appears also to have been known to Mr. Hastings.
suborn
- to bribe, incite, or instigate (a person) to commit a wrongful act
- criminal law to induce (a witness) to commit perjury
Word Origin for suborn
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.