# abettal

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abettal
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the act of helping someone to commit a crime. It is an old word that you will rarely see in modern books.

For teachers: the act of aiding or encouraging another person to commit a crime. Archaic in modern legal contexts; often replaced by 'abettor' or 'aiding and abetting'.

## Examples

- The court found evidence of abettal in the case.
- Historical legal texts often describe the abettal of a crime as a separate offense from the crime itself.
- While the primary defendant was responsible for the physical act, the abettal of the conspiracy was sufficient to secure a conviction for the secondary party.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.