bate1

[beyt] /beɪt/
verb (used with object), bated, bating.
1.
to moderate or restrain:
unable to bate our enthusiasm.
2.
to lessen or diminish; abate:
setbacks that bated his hopes.
verb (used without object), bated, bating.
3.
to diminish or subside; abate.
Idioms
4.
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
1250-1300; Middle English, aphetic variant of abate
Can be confused
baited, bated.

bate2

[beyt] /beɪt/
verb (used without object), bated, bating.
1.
(of a hawk) to flutter its wings and attempt to escape in a fit of anger or fear.
noun
2.
a state of violent anger or fear.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English baten to beat, flap (wings, etc.) < Middle French (se) batre ≪ Latin battuere to beat; cf. abate

bate3

[beyt] /beɪt/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), bated, bating.
1.
Tanning. to soak (leather) after liming in an alkaline solution to soften it and remove the lime.
noun
2.
the solution used.
Origin
1870-75; variant of beat to pare off turf, Old English bǣtan to bait; cognate with Swedish beta to tan, German beissen to macerate
Examples from the web for bate
  • bate's makes his baskets from various reclaimed woods.
  • In the report of riches and goodness always bate one half.
  • The more to feel, by such record, how that my wealth doth bate.
  • Exchange all exhibits and bate stamp them for identification.
  • bate had therefore little option but to agree to a meeting with the irate soldier.
British Dictionary definitions for bate

bate1

/beɪt/
verb
1.
another word for abate
2.
with bated breath, holding one's breath in suspense or fear

bate2

/beɪt/
verb
1.
(intransitive) (of hawks) to jump violently from a perch or the falconer's fist, often hanging from the leash while struggling to escape
Word Origin
C13: from Old French batre to beat, from Latin battuere; related to bat1

bate3

/beɪt/
verb (transitive)
1.
to soak (skin or hides) in a special solution to soften them and remove chemicals used in previous treatments
noun
2.
the solution used
Word Origin
Old English bǣtan to bait1

bate4

/beɪt/
noun
1.
(Brit, slang) a bad temper or rage
Word Origin
C19: from bait1, alluding to the mood of a person who is being baited
Word Origin and History for bate
v.

"to reduce, to lessen in intensity," c.1300, shortening of abate (q.v.). Now only in phrase bated breath, which was used by Shakespeare in "The Merchant of Venice" (1596).

c.1300, "to contend with blows or arguments," from Old French batre "to hit, beat, strike," from Late Latin battere, from Latin batuere "to beat, knock" (see batter (v.)). In falconry, "to beat the wings impatiently and flutter away from the perch." Figurative sense of "to flutter downward" attested from 1580s.