bate
verb (1)
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Definition of bate
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to reduce the force or intensity of : restrain waited with bated breath
2 : to take away : deduct That grave and orderly senior was not going to bate a jot of his dignity …— George Eliot
3 archaic : to lower especially in amount or estimation And I shall have to bate my price …— A. E. Housman
4 archaic : blunt And now I have bated your curiosity …— J. F. Cooper
bate
verb (2)Definition of bate (Entry 2 of 2)
: to attempt to fly off something (such as a gauntlet) in fear
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
'Bated', 'Shod', 'Boon', and 7 Other...
'Bated', 'Shod', 'Boon', and 7 Other Fossil Words
When old words show up in modern English
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The first known use of bate was in the 14th century
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More Definitions for bate
bate
verb
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Kids Definition of bate
: to reduce the force or intensity of … with parted lips and bated breath the audience hung upon his words …— Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer
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