abate
/əˈbeɪt/ verb C2- To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
- To reduce (something) in amount or size.
- 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.
- To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify. · to abate a writ
- To put an end to (a nuisance). · She was ordered by the court to abate the nuisance.
- To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits.
- To decrease in force or intensity; to subside.
Plural abate · He/she/it abates · Past abated · Past participle abated · -ing form abating
Verb forms
- Base form
- abate
- He/she/it
- abates
- Past
- abated
- Past participle
- abated
- -ing form
- abating
From the library
By degrees the wind abated, vast gray clouds rolled towards the west, and the blue firmament appeared studded with bright stars.
The latter was, as she admitted, growing old, but her black eyes were not dim nor the vigor of her tongue in the least abated.
The slightly awakened interest in the young lady’s eyes did not abate.
The next morning she found her grandmother in bed; the fever had not abated, on the contrary her eyes glistened and she appeared to be suffering from violent nervous irritability.
Learn abate in real texts
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