abate

Plural: abates

Verb

Verb Forms: abated, abating, abates

To become less intense, severe, or widespread.
make less active or intense
become less in amount or intensity
- "The storm abated"
To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
To reduce (something) in amount or size.
To reduce (something) in amount or size.
To cut away or hammer down (material from metalwork, a sculpture, etc.) in such a way as to leave a figure in relief.
To lower (something) in price or value.
To demolish or level to the ground (a building or other structure).
To give no consideration to (something); to treat as an exception.
To dull (an edge, point, etc.); to blunt.
To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify.
To put an end to (a nuisance).
To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
To curtail or end (something); to cause to cease.
To give (someone) a discount or rebate; also, to relieve (someone) of a debt.
To bring down (someone) mentally or physically; to lower (someone) in status.
Chiefly followed by from, of, etc.: to omit or remove (a part from a whole); to deduct, to subtract.
Chiefly followed by of: to deprive (someone or something of another thing).
To decrease in force or intensity; to subside.
To decrease in amount or size.
To lower in price or value; (law) specifically, of a bequest in a will: to lower in value because the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the bequests in full.
Of an edge, point, etc.: to become blunt or dull.
Of a writ or other legal document: to become null and void; to cease to have effect.
Of legal proceedings: to be dismissed or otherwise brought to an end before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
To give a discount or rebate; to discount, to rebate.
To bow down; hence, to be abased or humbled.
Chiefly followed by of: to deduct or subtract from.
To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it.

Noun

Abatement; reduction; (countable) an instance of this.
Deduction; subtraction; (countable) an instance of this.
An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy.

Examples

Bequests and legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.
My confidence did not abate after my opponent’s high-scoring move in Words with Friends.
She was ordered by the court to abate the nuisance.
The writ has abated.
to abate a writ
to order restrictions to abate an emergency
We will abate this price from the total.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English abaten, from Anglo-Norman abatre, from Late Latin abbattere, from Latin battere.
detailed etymology, sense derivation, and cognates
The verb is derived from Middle English abaten (“to demolish, knock down; to defeat, strike down; to strike or take down (a sail); to throw down; to bow dejectedly or submissively; to be dejected; to stop; to defeat, humiliate; to repeal (a law); to dismiss or quash (a lawsuit); to lessen, reduce; to injure, impair; to appease; to decline, grow less; to deduct, subtract; to make one’s way; attack (an enemy); (law) to enter or intrude upon (someone’s property); of a hawk: to beat or flap the wings”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman abater, abatier, abatre, abbatre, Middle French abattre, abatre, abattre, Old French abatre, abattre (“to demolish, knock down; to bring down, cut down; to lessen, reduce; to suppress; to stop; to discourage; to impoverish, ruin; to conquer; to overthrow; to kill; to remove (money) from circulation; (law) to annul”), from Late Latin abbattere (“to bring down, take down; to suppress; to debase (currency)”), from Latin ab- (prefix meaning ‘away; from; away from’) + Latin battere, from older battuere (“to beat, hit; to beat up; to fight”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ- (“to dig; to stab”)).
The noun is derived from the verb.

Synonyms

die away, let up, slack, slack off, slake, abase, alleviate, assuage, cut short, decline, decrease, depress, diminish, ebb, humble, lessen, lower, mitigate, relax, remit, slacken, soften, stop, suppress, temper, terminate, wane

Antonyms

aggravate, amplify, augment, enhance, enlarge, foment, increase, intensify, magnify, raise

Scrabble Score: 7

abate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
abate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
abate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

abate: valid Words With Friends Word