abate

[ uh-beyt ]

/ əˈbeɪt /

verb (used with object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

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.

Nearby words

abasia trepidans, abasia-astasia, abasic, abat-jour, abatage, abate, abatement, abatic, abatis, abator, abattage

Origin of abate

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French abatre to beat down, equivalent to a- a-⁵ + batre < Late Latin batere for Latin battuere to beat; a- perhaps also understood as a-³

SYNONYMS FOR abate

1 decrease, weaken.

6 subside.

ANTONYMS FOR abate

1, 6 increase, intensify.

Related forms

a·bat·a·ble, adjectivea·bat·er; Law. a·ba·tor, nounun·a·bat·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·bat·ing, adjective

un·a·bat·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abates

It abates one's relish for enjoyment, it tempers one's thirst for present pleasures; it loosens one's hold upon things mundane.
Missy|Miriam Coles Harris
Impossible to march against it in our weakened condition; must camp here till it abates.
A Man's Woman|Frank Norris
Besides, in them it abates wicked thoughts, and the desire of worldly delights.
The Monastery|Sir Walter Scott
Whether or not it abates one half the guilt, I make the confession.
Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders|William A. Alcott

In comes Ailie: one look at her quiets and abates the eager students.
Spare Hours|John Brown

British Dictionary definitions for abates

abate

/ (əˈbeɪt) /

verb

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

Word Origin for abate

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

Word Origin and History for abates

abate

"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.

abate

verb (used with object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

verb (used without object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of abate

Examples from the Web for abates

British Dictionary definitions for abates

abate

verb

Word Origin for abate

Word Origin and History for abates

abate