Abet Definition: Encouraging or inciting another to do a certain thing, such as a crime. For example, many countries will punish a person who aids or abets another to commit a crime as severely as they punish the primary offender. In R v Greyeyes [1997] 2 SCR 825, Canada's highest court stated, in the context of the Canadian Criminal Code: The terms aiding and abetting are often used together in the context of determining whether persons are parties to an offence. Although the meanings of these terms are similar, they are separate concepts. To aid ... means to assist or help the actor. To abet ... includes encouraging, instigating, promoting or procuring the crime to be committed." In R v Twigge, [1997] 5 WWR 572, Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal said that: "... to abet another is basically to encourage the other". Categories & Topics: Criminal Law Dictionary Find you are constantly looking up definitions? Try our search provider (works in most modern browsers) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have legal term suggestion, we'd love to hear from you!