abate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Verb 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Derived terms 1.2.1.3 Related terms 1.2.1.4 Translations 1.2.2 Noun 1.2.3 External links 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.2 Shorthand 2 Italian 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 2.2.1 Related terms 3 Novial 3.1 Noun 3.1.1 Related terms 4 Romanian 4.1 Etymology 4.2 Noun 5 Spanish 5.1 Verb

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP)
  • IPA: /əˈbeɪt/
  • SAMPA: /@"beIt/

  Rhymes: -eɪt

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English, from Old French abatre (“‘to beat down’”), from Late Latin abatto, from ab- (“‘away’”) + batto, from Latin battuere (“‘to beat’”). Cognates: French abattre

[edit] Verb

to abate (third-person singular simple present abates, present participle abating, simple past and past participle abated)

1. (transitive) To bring down or reduce to a lower state, number, degree or estimation.

   Legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.

   • 1597, Francis Bacon, Essays or Counsels, Civil and Morall:

     Not that they feel it so, but only to abate the edge of envy.

   • 1605, William Shakespeare, King Lear, II.ii:

     She hath abated me of half my train

   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible (Authorized Version), Deuteronomy 34:7

     His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

2. (intransitive) To diminish in force or intensity.

   The pain abates.

   • c. 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe:

     […] in the morning, the wind having abated overnight, the sea was calm, […]

   • 1855, Thomas Babington Macaulay, History of England from the Accession of James II, Part 3, page 267:

     The fury of Glengarry […] rapidly abated.

3. (transitive) To deduct or omit.

   We will abate this price from the total.

   • 1845, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Britain, Volume 3, page 100:

     Allowing nine thousand parishes (abating the odd hundreds) in England and Wales […]

4. (transitive) To bar or except.
5. (transitive) To bring someone down physically or mentally.
6. (transitive, law) To put an end to; to do away with.

   to abate a nuisance

   to abate a writ

7. (intransitive, law) To be defeated or come to naught.

   The writ has abated.

8. (archaic) To destroy, or level to the ground
   • 1542, Edward Hall, The Union of the Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and York:

     The kynge of Scottes planted his siege before the castell of Norham, and sore abated the walls.

[edit] Synonyms

• (bring down or reduce): lessen; diminish; contract; moderate; cut short; decrease
• (diminish in force or intensity): diminish; subside; decline
• (bring someone down): humble; depress
• (come to naught): fall through; fail

[edit] Derived terms

• abatable
• abatement
• abater
• unabated
• abate of

[edit] Related terms

• abator
• abattoir
• abatis

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

abate (plural abates)

1. (obsolete) abatement. - Sir Thomas Browne

[edit] External links

• abate at OneLook® Dictionary Search
• abate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

[edit] Etymology 2

From Italian abate

[edit] Noun

abate (plural abates)

1. An Italian abbot.

[edit] Shorthand

• Gregg (Version: Centennial,Series 90,DJS,Simplified,Anniversary,Pre-Anniversary): a - b - a - t

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Pronunciation

•  audio^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

abate m. (plural abati)

1. abbot

[edit] Related terms

• abbazia

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[edit] Novial

[edit] Noun

abate

1. abbot or abbess

[edit] Related terms

• abato
• abata
• abatia

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[edit] Romanian

[edit] Etymology

from Italian abate

[edit] Noun

abate m., pl. abaţi

1. abbot.

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[edit] Spanish

[edit] Verb

abate (infinitive: abatir)

1. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of abatir.
2. informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of abatir.