abate

[ uh-beyt ]
See synonyms for: abateabatedabating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.
  1. to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax;to abate one's enthusiasm.

  2. Law.

    • to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).

    • to suspend or extinguish (an action).

    • to annul (a writ).

  1. to deduct or subtract: to abate part of the cost.

  2. to omit: to abate all mention of names.

  3. to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.

verb (used without object),a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.
  1. to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The storm has abated.The pain in his shoulder finally abated.

  2. Law. to end; become null and void.

Origin of abate

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French abatre “to beat down,” equivalent to a- a-5 + batre, from Late Latin batere for Latin battuere “to beat”; a- perhaps also understood as a-3

Other words for abate

Opposites for abate

Other words from abate

  • a·bat·a·ble, adjective
  • a·bat·er; Law. a·ba·tor, noun
  • un·a·bat·a·ble, adjective
  • un·a·bat·ing, adjective
  • un·a·bat·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby abate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use abate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abate

abate

/ (əˈbeɪt) /


verb
  1. to make or become less in amount, intensity, degree, etc: the storm has abated

  2. (tr) law

    • to remove, suppress, or terminate (a nuisance)

    • to suspend or extinguish (a claim or action)

    • to annul (a writ)

  1. (intr) law (of a writ, legal action, etc) to become null and void

  2. (tr) to subtract or deduct, as part of a price

Origin of abate

1
C14: from Old French abatre to beat down, fell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012