abate

[uh-beyt] /əˈbeɪt/

verb (used with object), abated, abating.

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), abated, abating.

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.

Origin

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

Related forms

abatable, adjective

abater; Law. abator, noun

unabatable, adjective

unabating, adjective

unabatingly, adverb

Synonyms

1. decrease, weaken. 6. subside.

Antonyms

1, 6. increase, intensify.

Examples from the web for abate

Another feature is that these great storms to not necessarily abate as they come inland.
She hopes the backlash will abate soon.
Acid rain began to abate when pollution contributing to it was limited.
While the heat will abate eventually, don't count on much relief from rising energy bills.
That conclusion counters fears that the most important part of the economy, consumer spending, will soon abate.
Order the employer to take affirmative action to abate the reprisal.
Meanwhile, the debate over this and similar cases will not abate.
If the music industry drops their prices, pirates will abate.
Forecasters said the storm would be slow to abate even as it moved inland.
His passion for sports didn't abate.

British Dictionary definitions for abate

abate

/əˈbeɪt/

verb

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

(transitive) (law)

to remove, suppress, or terminate (a nuisance)
to suspend or extinguish (a claim or action)
to annul (a writ)

(intransitive) (law) (of a writ, legal action, etc) to become null and void

(transitive) to subtract or deduct, as part of a price

Word Origin

C14: from Old French abatre to beat down, fell

Word Origin and History for 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.