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al·i·bi

(ălə-bī′)

n. pl. al·i·bis

1. Law

a. A form of defense whereby a defendant attempts to prove that they were elsewhere when the crime in question was committed.

b. The fact of having been elsewhere when a crime in question was committed.

2. An explanation offered to avoid blame or justify action; an excuse.

v. al·i·bied, al·i·bi·ing, al·i·bis

v. intr.

To make an excuse for oneself.

v. tr.

To make an excuse for (another).

[Latin, elsewhere, from alius, other (on the model of ibi, there) ; see al-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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