1681, "to sink to the bottom," from L. subsidere "settle, sink, sit down or remain," from sub "down" + sidere "to settle," related to sedere (see sit). Meaning "to sink to a lower level, be reduced" is from 1706.
A*bate"\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"), v. i. [See Abate, v. t.]1. To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates, a storm abates. The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated. --Macaulay. 2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; as, a writ abates. To abate into a freehold, To abate in lands (Law), to enter into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See Abatement, 4. Syn: To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen. Usage: To Abate, Subside. These words, as here compared, imply a coming down from some previously raised or excited state. Abate expresses this in respect to degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of intensity; as, the storm abates, the cold abates, the force of the wind abates; or, the wind abates, a fever abates. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the waves subside after a storm, the wind subsides into a calm. When the words are used figuratively, the same distinction should be observed. If we conceive of a thing as having different degrees of intensity or strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a man's anger abates, the ardor of one's love abates, "Winter's rage abates". But if the image be that of a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or commotion, the word to be used is subside; as, the tumult of the people subsides, the public mind subsided into a calm. The same is the case with those emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his passion subsides, his joy quickly subsided, his grief subsided into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of the emotion, we might use abate; as, his joy will abate in the progress of time; and so in other instances.
Sub*side"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Subsided; p. pr. & vb. n. Subsiding.] [L. subsidere; sub under, below + sidere to sit down, to settle; akin to sedere to sit, E. sit. See Sit.]1. To sink or fall to the bottom; to settle, as lees. 2. To tend downward; to become lower; to descend; to sink. "Heaven's subsiding hill." --Dryden. 3. To fall into a state of quiet; to cease to rage; to be calmed; to settle down; to become tranquil; to abate; as, the sea subsides; the tumults of war will subside; the fever has subsided. "In cases of danger, pride and envy naturally subside." --C. Middleton. Syn: See Abate.
Sub*sid"ence\, Subsidency \Sub*sid"en*cy\, n. [L. subsidens, -entis, p. pr. of subsidere. See Subside.] The act or process of subsiding. The subdual or subsidence of the more violent passions. --Bp. Warburton.
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