Verb

(abett)

(obsolete) To urge on, stimulate (a person to do) something desirable.

To incite; to assist or encourage by aid or countenance in crime.

* 1823 , Ringan Gilhaize, The covenanters, by the author of Annals of the parish :

Those who would exalt themselves by abetting the strength of the Godless, and the wrength of the oppressors.

(archaic) To support, countenance, maintain, uphold, or aid any good cause, opinion, or action; to maintain.

* 1835 , Jeremy Taylor, George Rust, The whole works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor :

Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted .

(obsolete) To back up one's forecast of a doubtful issue, by staking money, etc., to bet.

Verb

(enabling) (enabl)

To give strength or ability to; to make firm and strong.

* 1611 , King James Bible , "1 Tim. i. 12"

Who hath enabled me.

To make able (to do, or to be, something); to confer sufficient power upon; to furnish with means, opportunities, and the like; to render competent for; to empower; to endow.

* 1711 , October 13, (Joseph Addison), (The Spectator) , number 195

Temperance gives Nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=72-3, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= A punch in the gut , passage=Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.}}

To allow a way out or excuse for an action.