abate
verb (abate, abates, abated, abating)
Everyday
- To abate means to become less strong or less in amount: «The storm abated.» tree →
- (formal, law) To abate something means to make it less or put an end to it: «abate the noise». tree →
In the lessons
In stories and weather reports, storms, winds, floods and pain abate; the word tells the reader the danger is passing. In formal writing and exams, it is a stiff word for «die down». In law, a council can order a nuisance (noise, smoke) to be abated. Phrases: «the storm abated», «show no signs of abating», «unabated» (still as strong).
Examples
- We waited in the hut until the storm abated. tree →
- The floods began to abate after three days. tree →
- Her fever abated during the night. tree →
- The noise from the party showed no signs of abating. tree →
- When the wind abated, the boats sailed out again. tree →
- The fighting continued unabated. tree →
- By this time the storm was much abated. tree →
Note
Regular verb: abated, abating. Formal; in everyday talk say «die down», «ease off». Opposite: increase, grow. «Unabated» means not getting weaker.
In Jewish tradition
In the Torah it means to die down or go down, as fire, floodwater or a man's strength does. In Judges it is also used of anger, which calms down once a person is spoken to wisely.
Interpretation. The words about Moses, whose natural force had not abated at 120, are read as a sign of his great vigor to the end. The story of Gideon is read as showing that a gentle answer turns away anger.
Examples
- And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto the LORD, and the fire abated. (Torah NUM.11.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground. (Torah GEN.8.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. (Torah DEU.34.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?' Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. (Prophets JDG.8.3, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Regular verb: abated, abating. Formal; in everyday talk say «die down», «ease off». Opposite: increase, grow. «Unabated» means not getting weaker.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «abate» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «abate» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «abate» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «abate» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
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