abate
[uh-beyt]
- to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.
- Law.
- to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).
- to suspend or extinguish (an action).
- to annul (a writ).
- to deduct or subtract: to abate part of the cost.
- to omit: to abate all mention of names.
- 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.
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- to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The storm has abated. The pain in his shoulder finally abated.
- Law. to end; become null and void.
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Origin of abate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for abate on Thesaurus.com1. decrease, weaken. 6. subside.
Antonyms
1, 6. increase, intensify.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for abate
Contemporary Examples
That modern science has repeatedly affirmed their findings does little to abate the continuing doubt.
Perhaps, under different circumstances, with other kinds of modern Jewish women, their anger might start to abate.
To abate the overload, The Daily Beast created its first list of the best destinations on the Web.
Deficits will begin to shrink; the country's present desperate mood will abate.
The purge marked a bold effort by the Islamist leader to abate widespread anger over the attack.
Historical Examples
But the colonel did not abate one whit of his craft or caution.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
Naval activity in the northern waters of Europe did not abate.
She has two fits of fever daily, and the disease does not abate.
The Memoirs of the Louis XIV. and The Regency, CompleteElizabeth-Charlotte, Duchesse d'Orleans
Then long hour followed long hour, but the inquietude of her mood did not abate.
The ScapegoatHall Caine
Certainly, but I shall exert all my strength to abate yours.
The Memoires of Casanova, CompleteJacques Casanova de Seingalt
abate
- to make or become less in amount, intensity, degree, etcthe storm has abated
- (tr) law
- to remove, suppress, or terminate (a nuisance)
- to suspend or extinguish (a claim or action)
- to annul (a writ)
- (intr) law (of a writ, legal action, etc) to become null and void
- (tr) to subtract or deduct, as part of a price
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for abate
v.
"put an end to" (c.1300); "to grow less, diminish in power or influence" (early 14c.), from Old French abattre "beat down, cast down," from Vulgar Latin *abbatere, from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + battuere "to beat" (see batter (v.)). Secondary sense of "to fell, slaughter" is in abatis and abattoir. Related: Abated; abating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper