abate
To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
To abate the force of these considerations, an enemy of free discussion may be supposed to say, that there is no necessity for mankind in general to know and understand all that can be said against or for the opinions by philosophers and theologians.
To reduce (something) in amount or size.
And receive into thy heart the instructions that I shall give thee now, and see that thou swerve not from them, nor abatest them a jot; for if thou observest them not, or departest in aught from them, thou wilt bring damnation upon thy soul; […]
[…] Lance, after having made some shew of helping him to his horse, ran back to tell his master the joyful intelligence, that a lucky accident had abated Chiffinch's party to their own number.
To cut away or hammer down (material from metalwork, a sculpture, etc.) in such a way as to leave a figure in relief.
To lower (something) in price or value.
Few words drive a bargain with Peter Eskett. I never abate one farthing of my price; but then that price never asks more than a fair profit.
(archaic) To demolish or level to the ground (a building or other structure).
(archaic) To give no consideration to (something); to treat as an exception.
(archaic, chiefly figuratively) To dull (an edge, point, etc.); to blunt.
(law) To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify.
(law) To put an end to (a nuisance).
[…] the law allows an extrajudicial remedy, yet that does not exclude the ordinary course of justice: […] I may either abate a nusance by my own authority, or call upon the law to do it for me: […]
(law, chiefly US) To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
(obsolete) To curtail or end (something); to cause to cease.
(obsolete) To give (someone) a discount or rebate; also, to relieve (someone) of a debt.
(obsolete) To bring down (someone) mentally or physically; to lower (someone) in status.
(obsolete) To omit or remove (a part from a whole); to deduct, to subtract.
Three shillings and eightpence, your worship—I could not abate a penny and set forth the value honestly.
(obsolete) To deprive (someone or something of another thing).
To decrease in force or intensity; to subside.
The third Day in the Morning, the Wind having abated over Night, the Sea was calm, and I ventur'd; but I am a warning Piece again to all rash and ignorant Pilots; for no sooner was I come to the Point, when even I was not my Boat's Length from the Shore, but I found my self in a great Depth of Water, and a Current like the Sluice of a Mill: […]
[…] during the eighteen years which had elapsed since the Restoration, the hatred of Puritanism had abated, and the hatred of Popery had increased.
To decrease in amount or size.
Whether fagged by the three days' running chase, and the resistance to his swimming in the knotted hamper he bore; or whether it was some latent deceitfulness and malice in him: whichever was true, the White Whale's way now began to abate, as it seemed, from the boat so rapidly nearing him once more; though indeed the whale's last start had not been so long a one as before.
To lower in price or value; (law) specifically, of a bequest in a will: to lower in value because the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the bequests in full.
And in the case of a deficiency of assets, all the general legacies must abate proportionably, in order to pay the debts; but a specific legacy (of a piece of plate, a horse, or the like) is not to abate at all, or allow any thing by way of abatement, unless there be not sufficient without it.
(archaic, chiefly figuratively) Of an edge, point, etc.: to become blunt or dull.
(law, chiefly historical) Of a writ or other legal document: to become null and void; to cease to have effect.
(law, chiefly US) Of legal proceedings: to be dismissed or otherwise brought to an end before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
[…] in actions arising ex contractu, by breach of promise and the like, where the right descends to the representatives of the plaintiff, and those of the defendant have assets to answer the demand, though the suits shall abate by the death of the parties, yet they may be revived against or by the executors: being indeed rather actions against the property than the person, in which the executors now have the same interest that their testator had before.
(obsolete) To give a discount or rebate; to discount, to rebate.
(obsolete) To bow down; hence, to be abased or humbled.
(obsolete) To deduct or subtract from.
So toilsome was the road to trace, / The guide, abating of his pace, / Led slowly through the pass's jaws, […]
So then, weighing all things well, and myself severely, I resolved to follow my Mentor's wise counsel; neither arrogating aught, nor abating of just dues; but circulating freely, sociably, and frankly, among the gods, heroes, high-priests, kings, and gentlemen, that made up the principalities of Mardi.
Abatement; reduction; an instance of this.
Deduction; subtraction; an instance of this.
That men weigh heavier dead than alive, if experiment hath not failed us, we cannot reasonably grant. For though the triall hereof cannot so well be made on the body of Man, nor will the difference be sensible in the abate of scruples or dragmes, yet can we not confirm the same in lesser animalls from whence the inference is good; […]
(law, chiefly historical) To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it.
An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy.
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