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Added 9 October 2026

suborn

/səˈbɔːn/ verb

Latin root: subōrnāre Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about suborn at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Incite to commit a crime or an evil deed.
He suborned his butler to cover up the murder of his wife
Procure (false testimony or perjury).
Induce to commit perjury or give false testimony.
The President tried to suborn false witnesses

Origin

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”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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