bribe

Etymology

From Old French briber (“go begging”).

noun

1. Something (usually money) given in exchange for influence or as an inducement to breaking the law.
   c. 1613-1625, Henry Hobart, Yardly v. Ellill Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe.
2. That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
   Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these everblooming sweets. 1744, Mark Akenside, The Pleasures of the Imagination
   Remy, this was a bribe! Our whole marriage has been nothing but a series of bribes! 1974, George Fox, Mario Puzo, Earthquake

verb

1. (transitive) To give a bribe to; specifically, to ask a person to do something against his/her original will, in exchange for some type of reward or relief from potential trouble.
   She was accused of trying to bribe the jury into making false statements.
   October 23, 1848, Frederick William Robertson, an address delivered at the Opening of The Working Men's Institute Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.
2. (transitive) To gain by a bribe; to induce as by a bribe.
   to bribe somebody's compliance