abate

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
2. (transitive) To reduce (something) in amount or size.
3. (transitive) To reduce (something) in amount or size.
4. (transitive) To lower (something) in price or value.
5. (archaic, transitive) To demolish or level to the ground (a building or other structure).
6. (archaic, transitive) To give no consideration to (something); to treat as an exception.
7. (archaic, figuratively, transitive) To dull (an edge, point, etc.); to blunt.
8. (transitive) To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify.
9. (transitive) To put an end to (a nuisance).
10. (US, transitive) To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
11. (obsolete, transitive) To curtail or end (something); to cause to cease.
12. (obsolete, transitive) To give (someone) a discount or rebate; also, to relieve (someone) of a debt.
13. (obsolete, transitive) To bring down (someone) mentally or physically; to lower (someone) in status.
14. (obsolete, transitive) Chiefly followed by from, of, etc.: to omit or remove (a part from a whole); to deduct, to subtract.
15. (obsolete, transitive) Chiefly followed by of: to deprive (someone or something of another thing).
16. (intransitive) To decrease in force or intensity; to subside.
17. (intransitive) To decrease in amount or size.
18. (intransitive) 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.
19. (archaic, figuratively, intransitive) Of an edge, point, etc.: to become blunt or dull.
20. (historical, intransitive) Of a writ or other legal document: to become null and void; to cease to have effect.
21. (US, intransitive) 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.
22. (intransitive, obsolete) To give a discount or rebate; to discount, to rebate.
23. (intransitive, obsolete) To bow down; hence, to be abased or humbled.
24. (intransitive, obsolete) Chiefly followed by of: to deduct or subtract from.

Noun

1. (obsolete, uncountable) Abatement; reduction; (countable) an instance of this.
2. (obsolete, uncountable) Deduction; subtraction; (countable) an instance of this.

Noun

An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy.

Synonyms

decrease

subside

diminish

reduce

lessen

die down

stop

🛑

calm down

slacken

cease

decline

ease

drop

end

🔚

moderate

wane

fall

relieve

terminate

deduct

mitigate

alleviate

staunch

slack

finish

halt

let up

cancel

remit

lift

lower

weaken

conclude

relax

nullify

discontinue

subtract

quiet down

annul

detract

fade

dwindle

void

abolish

abrogate

slake

allay

repeal

calm

become less

recede

quit

quieten down

quieten

quell

prorogue

palliate

loosen

die away

quieten down

abridge

assuage

bar

bate

blunt

come down

curtail

damp

discount

get better

give up

go down

lighten

remove

rescind

settle

slow down

take off

slack off

become calm

be less active

quiet down

detain

fall back

descend

flag

be dejected

get rid of

give in

become weak

give way to

be suppressed

depress

hang down

improve

lacquer

lay off

leave off

depreciation

lessened

depletion

deplete

minification

like the wind

liquidate

depart

dejected

lower oneself

lull

massacre

minify

minimize

deign

deescalate

modify

negate

nick

decrescendo

omit

decimate

pass away

perplexed

decelerate

qualify

decay

quiet

deaden

dampen

cross out

rebate

cool down

contraction

reduced

condescend

relent

climb down

cave in

subduce

bring down

reprieve

allayed

retire

retreat

rid

scrap

scrub

seal

🦭

season

delete

shellac

shorten

shortening

shrink

sink

bow

🙇

blow over

blow

deduct from

blench

step back

still

stoop

strike out

belittle

back down

suppress

disappear gradually

temper

attemper

tone down

tranquilize

trim

turn down

understate

vanish

varnish

aside

arrest

waste away

apprehend

weakening

wear

wind up

wipe out

wither

yield

defer to

derogate from

grow less

grow weak

grow weaker

annihilate

become weaker

be averted

be perplexed

be emaciated

do away with

drop off

dissipate

dispense with

ebb

emaciated

disband

evanesce

except

exempt

extenuate

exterminate

disappear

Translations

diminuer

nachlassen

einstellen

verringern

verminderen

baisser

réduire

beenden

vermindern

amoindrir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈbeɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: abaten

In summary

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.