abate

views updated May 11 2018

a·bate / əˈbāt/ • v. [intr.] (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread: the storm suddenly abated. ∎  [tr.] cause to become smaller or less intense: nothing abated his crusading zeal. ∎  [tr.] Law lessen, reduce, or remove (esp. a nuisance).

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

abate

views updated May 23 2018

abate XIII. — OF. abatre (mod. -tt-) :- Rom. *abbatt(u)ere, f. AD- + L. batt(u)ere beat; cf. BATE.
So abatement XV.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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