1. [n]  payment made to a person in a position of trust to corrupt his judgment
2. [v]  make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence; "This judge can be bought"

1. \Bribe\, n. [F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of
   meals (that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap
   of bread; cf. OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to
   beg, and OHG. bilibi food.]
   1. A gift begged; a present. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   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.
   

2. \Bribe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bribed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Bribing}.]
   1. To rob or steal. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
   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.
   

3. \Bribe\, v. i.
   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.
   

None to be taken; "for the gift maketh open eyes blind, and perverteth the cause of the righteous" (Ex. 23:8, literally rendered).