Abate
/əˈbeɪt/noun
To lessen in intensity or degree; to reduce or diminish.
Did you know?Originally tied to the concept of 'beating down' or 'striking away', 'abate' evokes images of diminishing forces, both physical and metaphysical.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
abattĕre
“To beat down or strike down.”
Old French
Old French
abattre
“To lower or cause to fall.”
Middle English
Middle English
abaten
“To lessen or reduce in force.”
Modern English
English
abate
“To diminish in intensity or amount.”