Part 10

<cs><col>To abate a tax</col>, <cd>to remit it either wholly or in part.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abate</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v.i.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Abate</er>, <ets>v</ets>.<ets>t</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; <as>as, pain <ex>abates</ex>, a storm <ex>abates</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly <b>abated</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; <as>as, a writ <ex>abates</ex></as>.</def>

<cs><mcol><col>To abate into a freehold</col>, <col>To abate in lands</col></mcol> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>to enter into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See <er>Abatement</er>, 4.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen.</syn> <usage> -- To <er>Abate</er>, <er>Subside</er>. These words, as here compared, imply a coming down from some previously raised or exited state. <i>Abate</i> expresses this in respect to degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of intensity; as, the storm <i>abates</i>, the cold <i>abates</i>, the force of the wind <i>abates</i>; or, the wind <i>abates</i>, a fever <i>abates</i>. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the waves <i>subside</i> 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 <i>abates</i>, the ardor of one's love abates, "Winter rage <i>abates</i>". But if the image be that of a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or commotion, the word to be used is <i>subside</i>; as, the tumult of the people <i>subsides</i>, the public mind <i>subsided</i> into a calm. The same is the case with those emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his passion <i>subsides</i>, his joy quickly <i>subsided</i>, his grief <i>subsided</i> into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of the emotion, we might use <i>abate</i>; as, his joy will <i>abate</i> in the progress of time; and so in other instances.</usage>

<h1>Abate</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Abatement.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Abatement</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bate"ment</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>abatement</ets>, F. <ets>abattement</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; <as>as, the <ex>abatement</ex> of a nuisance is the suppression thereof</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.</def>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<cs><mcol><col>Defense in abatement</col>, <col>Plea in abatement</col></mcol>, <fld>(Law)</fld>, <col>plea to the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, want of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.</cd></cs>

<h1>Abater</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*bat"er</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who, or that which, abates.</def>

<h1>Abatis, Abattis</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw><hw>Ab"a*tis</hw>, <hw>Aba"t*tis</hw>,<hw> <tt>(#)</tt> <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>abatis</ets>, <ets>abattis</ets>, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. <ets>abattre</ets>. See <er>Abate</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Fort.)</fld> <def>A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.</def>

<h1>Abatised</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>Ab"a*tised</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Provided with an abatis.</def>

<h1>Abator</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A*ba"tor</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>(a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right, enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.</def>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<h1>Abattoir</h1> <Xpage=2>

<hw>A`bat`toir"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Abattoirs</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[F., fr. <ets>abattre</ets> to beat down. See <er>Abate</er>.]</ety> <def>A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.</def>