abating

Verb

abate (third-person singular simple present abates, present participle abating, simple past and past participle abated)

1. (transitive) To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
   • [Jupiter] whiche by his goodnes as Marcianus ſaieth, abateth the malice of Saturne. Therfore the Poets faine, that he did put his father out of his kingdome, Iſidore writeth as he abateth the malice of the euill Planets, […]1576, Gerard Legh, “Azure”, in The Accedens of Armory, London: […] Richard Tottel, →OCLC, folios 6, verso – 7, recto

   Synonyms:

   alleviate, assuage, diminish, lower, mitigate, relax, remit, temper, ease

   Antonyms:

   aggravate, amplify, augment, enhance, foment, increase, intensify, magnify, raise

2. (transitive) To reduce (something) in amount or size.
   • Thou haſt dominion ouer their power, and when they be exalted & ſet aloft in their waies, thou abateſt their courage, and deſtroyeſt them with thy mighty arme.1599, [George Flinton, compiler and transl.], “Praiers for Svnneday, Containing Laudes, Praises & Thanks-giuing, for the Benefits that God hath Bestowed vpon Vs. [A Psalme in which the Goodnesse of...

   Synonyms:

   decrease, lessen

   Antonyms:

   enlarge, increase

   1. (transitive) To cut away or hammer down (material from metalwork, a sculpture, etc.) in such a way as to leave a figure in relief.
3. (transitive) 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.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 201
4. (archaic, transitive) To demolish or level to the ground (a building or other structure).
   • […] the kyng of Scottes […] with all hys hoſte and power entered into Englande (and threw doune pyles) the .xxij. daye of August, and planted hys ſiege before the Caſtell of Norham, and ſore abated the walles.a. 1548 (date written), Edward Hall, Richard Grafton, “[The Triumphant Reigne of Kyng Henry the VIII.] The .V. Yere.”, in The Vnion of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre & Yorke, […]...

   Synonyms:

   pull down, raze, ruinate, destroy, annihilate, aerosolize, atomize, benothing, bewreck, blot out

5. (archaic, transitive) To give no consideration to (something); to treat as an exception.
   • Abate throw at Nouum, and the whole world againe,
     Cannot picke out fiue ſuch, take each one in his vaine.c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby...

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