bribe

[brahyb] /braɪb/
noun
1.
money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person, especially in that person's performance as an athlete, public official, etc.:
The motorist offered the arresting officer a bribe to let him go.
2.
anything given or serving to persuade or induce:
The children were given candy as a bribe to be good.
verb (used with object), bribed, bribing.
3.
to give or promise a bribe to:
They bribed the reporter to forget about what he had seen.
4.
to influence or corrupt by a bribe:
The judge was too honest to be bribed.
verb (used without object), bribed, bribing.
5.
to give a bribe; practice bribery.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Middle French: remnant of food given as alms, said to be < an expressive base *bri(m)b- denoting something small
Related forms
bribable, bribeable, adjective
bribability, bribeability, noun
bribee, noun
briber, noun
outbribe, verb (used with object), outbribed, outbribing.
unbribable, adjective
unbribably, adverb
unbribed, adjective
unbribing, adjective
Examples from the web for bribe
  • Denial is all about people who want more money and are able to bribe politicians to get it.
  • It learned that some subcontractors were trying to bribe their way onto the job site.
  • In their experience no one is likely to listen unless they are a relative, a friend, or amenable to a bribe.
  • These developers allegedly paid a bribe to local officials for use of the land.
  • If everyone refused to pay bribes then bribe demands would cease.
  • He later clarified that no minister had asked him for a bribe.
  • If an inspector caught her, she would give up the fish and a few dollars as a bribe.
  • Those who accept the government bribe are enriched and those who refuse will pay for the bribe.
  • First, that there has been a bribe of a data gatherer by a college official.
  • Detectives suspect many more get through with a few kilos and a bribe.
British Dictionary definitions for bribe

bribe

/braɪb/
verb
1.
to promise, offer, or give something, usually money, to (a person) to procure services or gain influence, esp illegally
noun
2.
a reward, such as money or favour, given or offered for this purpose
3.
any persuasion or lure
4.
a length of flawed or damaged cloth removed from the main piece
Derived Forms
bribable, bribeable, adjective
briber, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French briber to beg, of obscure origin
Word Origin and History for bribe
n.

late 14c., "thing stolen," from Old French bribe "bit, piece, hunk; morsel of bread given to beggars" (14c., cf. Old French bribeor "vagrant, beggar"), from briber, brimber "to beg," a general Romanic word (Gamillscheg marks it as Rotwelsch, i.e. "thieves' jargon"), of uncertain origin; old sources suggest Celtic (cf. Breton breva "to break"). Shift of meaning to "gift given to influence corruptly" is by mid-15c.

v.

late 14c., "pilfer, steal," also "practice extortion," from Old French briber "go begging," from bribe (see bribe (n.)). Related: Bribed; bribing.

bribe in the Bible

None to be taken; "for the gift maketh open eyes blind, and perverteth the cause of the righteous" (Ex. 23:8, literally rendered).