bribe
UK[braɪb]US[braɪb]
v
To persuade someone to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
n
A sum of money or other inducement offered or given in this way.
Etymology
The word 'bribe' entered English in the late 14th century from the Old French 'bribe', meaning "a piece of bread given to a beggar." This French term likely originated as a slang word. The core concept evolved from a humble handout of bread to a charitable gift, and then, by the early 16th century, it acquired its modern negative sense of a gift or reward given to pervert judgment or corrupt conduct. This etymological journey illustrates a classic semantic shift from a neutral or positive object (sustenance) to a morally compromised action, reflecting the perception of such gifts as corrupting influences.
Analysis
The word 'bribe' is a simplex loanword from French. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The official was accused of accepting a bribe to overlook safety violations.
He attempted to bribe the guard with cash to gain access to the restricted area.
The investigation uncovered a complex scheme of bribes and kickbacks.