Main Entry: ¹bate

Pronunciation: \ˈbāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): bat·ed; bat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, short for abaten to abate

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to reduce the force or intensity of : restrain <with bated breath>
2 : to take away : deduct
3 archaic : to lower especially in amount or estimation
4 archaic : bluntintransitive verb obsolete : diminish, decrease