| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| abate |
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| SYLLABICATION: | a·bate |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   -b t |
| VERB: | Inflected forms: a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing, a·bates
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen. See synonyms at decrease. 2. To deduct from an amount; subtract. 3. Law a. To put an end to. b. To make void. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To fall off in degree or intensity; subside. 2. Law To become void. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English abaten, from Old French abattre, to beat down : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad–) + batre, to beat; see batter1.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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