bate
1[ beyt ]
/ beɪt /
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verb (used with object), bat·ed, bat·ing.
to moderate or restrain: unable to bate our enthusiasm.
to lessen or diminish; abate: setbacks that bated his hopes.
verb (used without object), bat·ed, bat·ing.
to diminish or subside; abate.
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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
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Idioms about bate
with bated breath, with breath drawn in or held because of anticipation or suspense: We watched with bated breath as the runners approached the finish line.
Origin of bate
1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, shortening of abate
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bate
baited, batedOther definitions for bate (2 of 3)
bate2
[ beyt ]
/ beɪt /
verb (used without object), bat·ed, bat·ing.
(of a hawk) to flutter its wings and attempt to escape in a fit of anger or fear.
noun
a state of violent anger or fear.
Origin of bate
2First 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”; cf. abate
Other definitions for bate (3 of 3)
bate3
[ beyt ]
/ beɪt /
verb (used with or without object), bat·ed, bat·ing.
Tanning. to soak (leather) after liming in an alkaline solution to soften it and remove the lime.
noun
the solution used.
Origin of bate
3First recorded in 1870–75; variant of beat “to pare off turf”; probably from Swedish beta “to tan”; cognate with German beizen “to tan, pickle;” see also bait
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use bate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bate (1 of 4)
British Dictionary definitions for bate (2 of 4)
bate2
/ (beɪt) /
verb
(intr) (of hawks) to jump violently from a perch or the falconer's fist, often hanging from the leash while struggling to escape
Word Origin for bate
C13: from Old French batre to beat, from Latin battuere; related to bat 1
British Dictionary definitions for bate (3 of 4)
bate3
/ (beɪt) /
verb (tr)
to soak (skin or hides) in a special solution to soften them and remove chemicals used in previous treatments
noun
the solution used
Word Origin for bate
Old English bǣtan to bait 1
British Dictionary definitions for bate (4 of 4)
bate4
/ (beɪt) /
noun
British slang a bad temper or rage
Word Origin for bate
C19: from bait 1, alluding to the mood of a person who is being baited
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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