abetter

1 9.8

A person who helps someone else commit a crime

noun
/əˈbɛtər/

: incitador

She was deemed an abetter because she encouraged him to commit the fraud.

Examples

Critical to note in the 2010 Die Zeit "Die Gehilfen des Zweifels" ("Abetters of Doubt") article is its page 3 reference to Naomi Oreskes.

Blog text (29)
He was charged as an abetter for helping his friend commit the robbery.
The police arrested several individuals who acted as abetters in the smuggling ring.

Synonyms

accomplice

vsabetter

172 6.7

Person who helps another person commit a crime

is broader, also covering encouragement without direct participation

accessory

vsabetter

Specialized

59 7.7

A person who helps someone commit a crime without taking part directly

also covers direct involvement and active encouragement

abettor

vsabetter

1 9.2

A person who helps someone else commit a crime

has identical meaning and is the same legal idea

aider

vsabetter

Formal

1 9.3

A person who helps another person commit a crime, for example by giving a getaway car

stresses encouragement and incitement as well as simple support

inciter

vsabetter

NSFW

1 8.4

A person who encourages others to do wrong or cause trouble

also includes helping or supporting, not only verbal urging

accessary

vsabetter

Archaic

9.4

A person who helps someone avoid arrest after they commit a crime

can be present during the act rather than always absent

How Complicit

accomplice

172 6.7

abetter

1 9.8

helper

79 1.0

bystander

84 3.4

Surface Forms

abetter singular

abetters plural

Morphology

abetter = abet (transparent) = abet + er

Standard agent-noun formation from the verb 'abet' with the productive suffix '-er', so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

The word abetter comes from the verb abet plus the ending -er, which means 'one who'. The verb abet is like the word 'bait' and once meant 'to encourage', so an abetter is someone who helps or urges another person to do something, for example a crime.