bribe / brīb/ • v. [tr.] persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement: [tr.] you weren't willing to be good to your sister without being bribed with a lollipop. [intr.] he has no money to bribe with. • n. a sum of money or other inducement offered or given in this way.DERIVATIVES: brib·a·ble adj.brib·er n.ORIGIN: late Middle English: from Old French briber, brimber ‘beg,’ of unknown origin. The original sense was ‘rob, extort,’ hence (as noun) ‘theft, stolen goods,’ also ‘money extorted or demanded for favors, ’ later ‘offer money as an inducement’ (early 16th cent.).

bribe †purloin, steal XIV; corrupt by means of gifts XVI. — OF. bri(ni)ber beg. be a mendicant = Sp. bribar beg. of unkn. orig.
So briber †thief, vagabond, scoundrel XIV; †one who levies blackmail or accepts bribes; one who gives bribes XVI. orig. — AN. bribour, OF. bribeur beggar, vagabond; later f. the vb.; see -ER1. bribery †theft XIV; †exaction of money; offer or acceptance of bribes XVI. — OF. briberie. Hence bribe sb. XV.