The word "abate" has four letters and is pronounced /əˈbeɪt/. The first sound is a schwa, which is a neutral vowel sound, followed by the long "a" sound as in the word "gate". The "b" and "t" sounds are pronounced as they appear, producing an abrupt stop of the air flow. The spelling of "abate" reflects the Latin root word, "abatere", meaning "to beat down or lessen". This word is often used to describe a reduction or decrease in intensity, such as when a storm abates or a fever abates.
To abate means to lessen or reduce in degree, intensity, or amount. It refers to the process of diminishing or subsiding a certain quality, force, or condition.
In a general sense, abate implies a decrease in severity or strength. For instance, it can be used to describe the alleviation of pain or discomfort. If someone has a headache, taking medication may abate the intensity of the pain, making it more tolerable.
Additionally, abate can refer to the reduction or mitigation of a specific negative effect or event. For example, if there is excessive noise in an area, a city ordinance may be enacted to abate the noise pollution, aiming to restore tranquility and peacefulness.
Abate is also employed in legal contexts. It is used to express the termination or suspension of a legal action, such as a lawsuit or a court order. If a dispute is resolved or settled out of court, the initial legal proceedings may be abated, bringing an end to the legal action.
Overall, the term abate encompasses the concept of diminishing or lessening, be it related to physical symptoms, undesirable conditions, or legal matters. Its application reflects the act of reducing the extent or intensity of something in order to alleviate or resolve a given situation.
1. To do away with. 2. To lessen, decrease, become reduced.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
To lessen; to lower in price; to grow less; to subside.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "abate" originated from the Old French term "abatre", which derives from the Latin word "ad" (to) and "battuere" (to beat). The original meaning of "abatre" was "to beat down" or "to cast down forcefully". Over time, the word evolved to encompass various related senses such as "to lessen", "to reduce", or "to make less intense". This transformation in meaning took place during the Middle English period.