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suborn Definition

sub·orn (sə bôrn′)

transitive verb

  1. to get or bring about through bribery or other illegal methods
  2. to induce or instigate (another) to do something illegal, esp. to commit perjury

Etymology: L subornare, to furnish or supply, instigate, incite secretly < sub-, under + ornare, to furnish, adorn: see ornament

Related Forms:

suborn Law Definition

v

To cause a person to do an illegal or immoral act, especially in a secretive or underhanded fashion; to cause a person to perjure his or herself; to get perjured testimony from someone.
suborn Usage Examples

Object

  • witness: Another story is that the Caliph got Khalid the Barmeki to suborn witnesses who swore that ' Isa had resigned his right.
  • testimony: Over the years, CIA and military interrogators have repeatedly attempted to suborn testimony from both men, linking Abu Qatada to al Qaida.