Abate Definition

ə-bāt
abated, abates, abating
verb
abated, abates, abating
To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen.
A program to abate air pollution.
American Heritage
To make less in amount, degree, force, etc.
Webster's New World
To become less in amount, degree, force, etc.; diminish.
Webster's New World
To put an end to.
The court ordered that the nuisance of the wrecked vehicle in the front yard be abated.
American Heritage
To deduct.
Webster's New World
noun
To end, eliminate, do away with, or make null and void. To diminish, decrease, or lessen in degree or amount. The reduction of a bequest or devise made in a will because the combined value of all bequests and devises, and/or the debts owed by a testator, exceed the assets in the testator’s estate. The rebate or reduction of taxes already assessed and/or paid.
Webster's New World Law

(obsolete) Abatement. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17th century.]

Wiktionary

An Italian abbot, or other member of the clergy. [First attested in the early 18th century.]

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Abate

Noun

Singular:
abate
Plural:
abates

Origin of Abate

  • From Middle English abaten, from Old French abatre (“to beat down”) (possibly via Middle French), from Late Latin abbatto, from ab- (“away”) + batto, from Latin battuere (“to beat”). Cognate to modern French abattre.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English abaten from Old French abattre to beat down a- to (from Latin ad- ad–) batre to beat batter1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Italian abate, from Latin abbās, abbātis, from Ancient Greek ἀββᾶς (abbas), from Aramaic אבא (’abbā, “father”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Anglo-Norman abatre, an alteration of enbatre, from Old French en + batre (“to beat”).

    From Wiktionary

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