bate

¹

[ beyt ]

verb (used with object)

, bat·ed, bat·ing.

1. to moderate or restrain:

   unable to bate our enthusiasm.

2. to lessen or diminish; abate:

   setbacks that bated his hopes.

verb (used without object)

, bat·ed, bat·ing.

1. to diminish or subside; abate.

bate

²

[ beyt ]

verb (used without object)

, bat·ed, bat·ing.

1. (of a hawk) to flutter its wings and attempt to escape in a fit of anger or fear.

noun

1. a state of violent anger or fear.

bate

³

[ beyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, bat·ed, bat·ing.

1. Tanning. to soak (leather) after liming in an alkaline solution to soften it and remove the lime.

noun

1. the solution used.

bate

¹

/ beɪt /

verb

1. to soak (skin or hides) in a special solution to soften them and remove chemicals used in previous treatments

noun

1. the solution used

bate

²

/ beɪt /

noun

1. slang.
   a bad temper or rage

bate

³

/ beɪt /

verb

1. another word for abate
2. with bated breath
   holding one's breath in suspense or fear

bate

⁴

/ beɪt /

verb

1. intr (of hawks) to jump violently from a perch or the falconer's fist, often hanging from the leash while struggling to escape

Word History and Origins

Origin of bate¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, shortening of abate

Origin of bate²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English bat(t)en “to beat, stamp, flap (wings, etc.), peck, strike,” from Middle French (se) bat(t)re, ultimately from Latin battuere, battere, batuere “to beat, pound”; abate

Origin of bate³

First recorded in 1870–75; variant of beat “to pare off turf”; probably from Swedish beta “to tan”; cognate with German beizen “to tan, pickle;” bait ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of bate¹

Old English bǣtan to bait ¹

Origin of bate²

C19: from bait ¹, alluding to the mood of a person who is being baited

Origin of bate³

C13: from Old French batre to beat, from Latin battuere ; related to bat ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with bated breath. bated ( def 3 ).

Example Sentences

Jonathan Bate argues in the TLS that Swinburne was a master metrician as well as a pioneer in changing sexual attitudes.

From The Daily Beast

The measure of oil also, a bate of oil is the tenth part of a core: and ten bates make a core: for ten bates fill a core.

From Project Gutenberg

He bate th' champeen iv the' wurruld last week be a scoore iv wan hundhred an' eighty-two to siventy-six.

From Project Gutenberg

De kote had to bate de trap wid one warmint ter catch anudder one.

From Project Gutenberg

Pend upon it boss, Miss Alice is ergwine to bite at the hook fore yu flings out de bate.

From Project Gutenberg

I nevertheless still loved Truth, and would bate no jot of my allegiance to her.

From Project Gutenberg