# suborn

> English word · Verb · IPA /səˈbɔːn/

## Definitions
1. To induce (someone) to commit an unlawful or malicious act, especially in a corrupt manner.
2. To induce (someone) to commit an unlawful or malicious act, especially in a corrupt manner.
3. To achieve (some result; specifically, perjury) in a corrupt manner.
4. To procure or provide (something) secretly and often in a dishonest manner.
5. To make use of (something), especially for corrupt or dishonest reasons.
6. To aid, assist, or support (something).
7. To furnish or provide (something).
8. To substitute (a thing) for something else, especially secretly and often in a dishonest manner.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *upó
Borrowed from Anglo-Norman suburner, subhorner, and Middle French suborner, subourner (“to induce (someone) to commit a crime (specifically perjury) or wrongdoing”) (modern French suborner (“to suborn; to bribe”)), and from its etymon Latin subōrnāre, the present active infinitive of subōrnō (“to incite, instigate, suborn; to instruct one for a secret purpose; to adorn, dress; to equip, furnish, provide; to make one appear as (something)”), from sub- (prefix meaning ‘under’) + ōrnō (“to equip, furnish, provide; to adorn, decorate, ornament”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“to put together, fit; to fix; to slot”)).
Cognates
* Catalan subornar
* Italian subornare
* Old Occitan subornar, sobornar
* Portuguese subornar
* Spanish subornar (obsolete), sobornar

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/suborn