v (obsolete|transitive) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do something) desirable. (defdate|Attested from around (1350 to 1470) (1390) until the early 17th century.)(reference-book | last = Dobbie | first = Elliott K. | coauthors = Dunmore, C. William, et al. | editor = Barnhart, Robert K.| title = Chambers Dictionary of Etymology | origyear = 1998 | year = 2004 | publisher = Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd | location = Edinburgh, Scotland | isbn =0550142304 | pages = 6)
v (transitive) To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime. (defdate|First attested from around (1350 to 1470).)(reference-book | last =| first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | editor =Brown, Lesley | others = | title = The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary | origdate = | origyear = 1933| origmonth = | url = | format = | accessdate = | accessyear = | accessmonth = | edition = 5th | date = | year =2003| month = | publisher =Oxford University Press | location =Oxford, UK | language = | id = | doi = | isbn =978-0-19-860575-7 | lccn = | ol = | pages =4| chapter = | chapterurl = | quote =)
v (transitive|archaic) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid any good cause, opinion, or action; to maintain. (defdate|First attested in the late 16th century.)
v (obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.
n (obsolete) Fraud or cunning. (defdate|First attested from 1150 to 1350.)
n (obsolete) An act of abetting; of helping; of giving aid. (defdate|First attested from 1350 to 1470.)