Entry 8 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Bribe

/(brīb)/ · IPA /bɹaɪb/

01 n. A gift begged; a present.

1.
A gift begged; a present.[Obs.]
2.
A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, voter, or other person in a position of trust.
“Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe.” — Hobart.
3.
That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
“Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these ever�blooming sweets.” — Akenside.

02 v. t. To rob or steal.

imp. & p. p. Bribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bribing

1.
To rob or steal.[Obs.]
2.
To give or promise a reward or consideration to (a judge, juror, legislator, voter, or other person in a position of trust) with a view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to induce or influence by a bribe; to give a bribe to.
“Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.” — F. W. Robertson.
3.
To gain by a bribe; of induce as by a bribe.

03 v. i. To commit robbery or theft.

1.
To commit robbery or theft.[Obs.]
2.
To give a bribe to a person; to pervert the judgment or corrupt the action of a person in a position of trust, by some gift or promise.
“An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be criminal, and the offender may be indicted.” — Bouvier.

“The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe.” — Goldsmith.