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abate

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Abate
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a⋅bate

  [uh-beyt] verb, a⋅bat⋅ed, a⋅bat⋅ing.
Use abate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm.
2. Law.
a. to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).
b. to suspend or extinguish (an action).
c. to annul (a writ).
3. to deduct or subtract: to abate part of the cost.
4. to omit: to abate all mention of names.
5. to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.
–verb (used without object)
6. to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The storm has abated. The pain in his shoulder finally abated.
7. Law. to end; become null and void.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < MF abatre to beat down, equiv. to a- a- 5 + batre < LL batere for L battuere to beat; a- perh. also understood as a- 3

Related forms:
a⋅bat⋅a⋅ble, adjective
a⋅bat⋅er; Law. a⋅ba⋅tor, noun

Synonyms:
1. decrease, weaken. 6. subside.

Antonyms:
1, 6. increase, intensify.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Abate
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a·bate   (ə-bāt')   
v.   a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing, a·bates

v.   tr.

  1. To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen. See Synonyms at decrease.

  2. To deduct from an amount; subtract.

  3. Law

    1. To put an end to.

    2. To make void.

v.   intr.

  1. To fall off in degree or intensity; subside.

  2. Law To become void.


[Middle English abaten, from Old French abattre, to beat down : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + batre, to beat; see batter1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

abate 
c.1270, from O.Fr. abattre "beat down," from L. ad "to" + battuere "to beat" (see batter (v.)). Secondary sense of "to fell, slaughter" is in abatis and abattoir.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: abate
Pronunciation: &-'bAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: abat·ed; abat·ing
Etymology: Old French abattre, literally, to knock down, from a-, prefix stressing result + battre to beat
transitive verb 1 a : to put an end to or do away with <abate a nuisance> b : make void : NULLIFY <abate an action>
2 : to reduce in amount esp. proportionately <abate a tax> intransitive verb 1 : to become defeated or become null or void abate —Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 43>
2 : to decrease in amount or value abated proportionately>
NOTE: A problem arises in estate law when the amount of the bequests and devises made in a will exceeds the assets available in the estate. In such a case, some or all of the bequests and devises may have to be abated to make up the deficit. Under the Uniform Probate Code, property in the estate that is not specifically given under the will abates first, residuary devises abate second, general devises abate third, and specific devises abate last.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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