Bribe

n. [Fr. bribe, Prov. Fr. brife, a hunch of bread, scrap, leavings of meals (that are generally given to a beggar), L. Lat. briba, scrap of bread, O. Fr. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to beg; Cf. W. briw, fragment, bara briw, broken bread, Armor. brera, brevi, to break.] 1. A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to pervert the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, or other person. Undue reward for any thing against justice is a bribe. Hobart. To receive presents, or a bribe, was punished in a judge by death. Prescott. 2. That which seduces; seduction; allurement. Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these ever-blooming sweets. Akenside.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. BRIBED; p. pr. & vb. n. BRIBING.] 1. To give or promise a reward or consideration to, with a view to pervert the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to hire for bad purposes; to purchase the decision or testimony of, or the performance of some act by, that is contrary to known truth, justice, or rectitude. Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience. F. W. Robertson. 2. To gain by a bribe.