Abate

Abate A*bate" ([.a]*b[=a]t"), v. i. [See {Abate}, v. t.] 1. To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain abates, a storm abates. [1913 Webster]

The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; as, a writ abates. [1913 Webster]

{To abate into a freehold}, {To abate in lands} (Law), to enter into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See {Abatement}, 4. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen.

Usage: To {Abate}, {Subside}. These words, as here compared, imply a coming down from some previously raised or excited state. Abate expresses this in respect to degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of intensity; as, the storm abates, the cold abates, the force of the wind abates; or, the wind abates, a fever abates. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the waves subside after a storm, the wind subsides into a calm. When the words are used figuratively, the same distinction should be observed. If we conceive of a thing as having different degrees of intensity or strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a man's anger abates, the ardor of one's love abates, ``Winter's rage abates''. But if the image be that of a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or commotion, the word to be used is subside; as, the tumult of the people subsides, the public mind subsided into a calm. The same is the case with those emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his passion subsides, his joy quickly subsided, his grief subsided into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of the emotion, we might use abate; as, his joy will abate in the progress of time; and so in other instances. [1913 Webster]