Pronunciation: (u-bāt'), [key] —v., a•bat•ed, a•bat•ing. 1. to
reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to
abate a tax; to abate one's enthusiasm. a. to put an end to or
suppress (a nuisance). b. to suspend or extinguish (an action).
c. to annul (a writ). 3. to deduct or subtract: to abate part of
the cost. 4. to omit: to abate all mention of names. 5. to
remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a
portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in
low relief. 1. to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.:
The storm has abated. The pain in his shoulder finally abated.
2. Law.to end; become null and void. Random House Unabridged
Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on
Infoplease.