Understanding the Opposite of ABET

The question asks us to find the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word ABET from the given options.

Let's first understand the meaning of the word ABET.

• ABET: To encourage, support, or assist someone in doing something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or offense. It implies giving help or encouragement, often to a wrongdoing.

Now let's look at the meanings of the given options:

• Ferment: To undergo fermentation (a chemical process); or to incite or stir up (unrest, disorder, etc.).
• Hinder: To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction. To impede or obstruct.
• Hindsight: Understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened.
• Foment: To instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).

We are looking for the opposite of ABET, which means to help or encourage (specifically a wrong action). The opposite would be something that prevents, obstructs, or discourages an action.

• Ferment and Foment are related to stirring up or inciting, which is closer in meaning to helping or encouraging an action, rather than opposing it.
• Hindsight is about looking back and understanding past events, which has no relation to encouraging or preventing an action.
• Hinder means to obstruct or delay. This directly opposes the idea of helping or encouraging an action. If you hinder someone, you are making it difficult or impossible for them to proceed, which is the opposite of abetting them.

Comparing the options, Hinder is the word that means to prevent or obstruct, which is the most direct opposite to ABET (to help or encourage).

Therefore, the word most nearly opposite in meaning to ABET is Hinder.