Bribe /(brīb)/

Bribe

n.
  1. A gift begged; a present. [Obs.]
  2. A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, voter, or other person in a position of trust.
    Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe.
    — Hobart.
  3. That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
    Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these everblooming sweets.
    — Akenside.

Bribe

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Bribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bribing

  1. To rob or steal. [Obs.]
  2. To give or promise a reward or consideration to (a judge, juror, legislator, voter, or other person in a position of trust) with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to induce or influence by a bribe; to give a bribe to.
    Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.
    — F. W. Robertson.
  3. To gain by a bribe; of induce as by a bribe.

Bribe

v. i.
  1. To commit robbery or theft. [Obs.]
  2. To give a bribe to a person; to pervert the judgment or corrupt the action of a person in a position of trust, by some gift or promise.
    An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be criminal, and the offender may be indicted.
    — Bouvier.
    The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe.