a. Capable of being abated; as, an abatable writ or nuisance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Abated, p. pr. & vb. n. Abating. ] [ OF. abatre to beat down, F. abattre, LL. abatere; ab or ad + batere, battere (popular form for L. batuere to beat). Cf. Bate, Batter. ] 1. To beat down; to overthrow. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls. Edw. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; to cut short; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope. [ 1913 Webster ]

His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut. xxxiv. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To deduct; to omit; as, to abate something from a price. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nine thousand parishes, abating the odd hundreds. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To blunt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To abate the edge of envy. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To reduce in estimation; to deprive. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She hath abated me of half my train. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Law) (a) To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with; as, to abate a nuisance, to abate a writ. (b) (Eng. Law) To diminish; to reduce. Legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets. [ 1913 Webster ]

To abate a tax, to remit it either wholly or in part. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. -- 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 ]

n. Abatement. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. abatement, F. abattement. ] 1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; as, the abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Defense in abatement,
Plea in abatement, (Law), plea to the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, lack of jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, abates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Provided with an abatis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) (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. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } pos>n. [ F. abatis, abattis, mass of things beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate. ] (Fort.) A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Abattoirs [ F., fr. abattre to beat down. See Abate. ] A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. abatture, fr. abattre. See Abate. ] Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing through them. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. abattre to beat down + voix voice. ] The sounding-board over a pulpit or rostrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. abbatialis : cf. F. abbatial. ] Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abbatial. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. accubatio, for accubitio, fr. accubare to recline; ad + cubare to lie down. See Accumb. ] The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the ancients at meals. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. acerbatus, p. p. of acerbare, fr. acerbus. ] To sour; to imbitter; to irritate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. acrobate, fr. Gr. &unr_; walking on tiptoe, climbing aloft; &unr_; high + &unr_; to go. ] One who practices rope dancing, high vaulting, or other daring gymnastic feats. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a genus of mammals.
Syn. -- genus Acrobates. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. acrobatique. ] Pertaining to an acrobat. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ac`ro*bat"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. Feats of the acrobat; daring gymnastic feats; high vaulting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acutus sharp + E. lobe. ] (Bot.) Having acute lobes, as some leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'adia`batos not passable; 'a priv. + dia` through + bai`nein to go. ] (Physics) Not giving out or receiving heat. -- Ad`i*a*bat`ic*al*ly, adv. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

☞The adiabatic expansion of carbon dioxide from a compressed container causes the temperature of the gas to decrease rapidly below its freezing point, resulting in the familiar carbon dioxide “snow” emitted by carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. [ PJC. ]

Adiabatic line or
curve, a curve exhibiting the variations of pressure and volume of a fluid when it expands without either receiving or giving out heat. Rankine. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. albatus, p. p. of albare to make white, fr. albus white. ] A white metallic alloy; which is made into spoons, forks, teapots, etc. British plate or German silver. See German silver, under German. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-qādus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch. ] (Zool.) A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Pertaining to anabasis; as, an anabatic fever. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. andabata a kind of Roman gladiator, who fought hoodwinked. ] Doubt; uncertainty. [ Obs. ] Shelford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl.) One of a sect which opposes the observance of the Christian Sabbath. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. approbatus, p. p. of approbare to approve. ] Approved. [ Obs. ] Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially. [ 1913 Webster ]

I approbate the one, I reprobate the other. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word is obsolete in England, but is occasionally heard in the United States, chiefly in a technical sense for license; as, a person is approbated to preach; approbated to keep a public house. Pickering (1816). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. approbatio: cf. F. approbation. See Approve to prove. ] 1. Proof; attestation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval; sanction; commendation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many . . . joined in a loud hum of approbation. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The silent approbation of one's own breast. Melmoth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Animals . . . love approbation or praise. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Probation or novitiate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Approval; liking; sanction; consent; concurrence. -- Approbation, Approval. Approbation and approval have the same general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction, commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. “We may be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still more anxious for the approval of our own consciences.” “He who is desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson from the fable of the old man and his ass.” “The work has been examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their unqualified approval of its plan and execution.” [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. approbatif. ] Approving, or implying approbation. Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being approbative. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Phren.) Love of approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who approves. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing or expressing approbation; commendatory. Sheldon. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Turkmenistan. Population (2000) = 518, 000. [ PJC ]

a. [ L. barbatus, fr. barba beard. See Barb beard. ] (Bot.) Bearded; beset with long and weak hairs. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having barbed points. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dart uncommonly barbated. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Siamese. ] Same as Tical, n., 1. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OE. batte, botte, AS. batt; perhaps fr. the Celtic; cf. Ir. bat, bata, stick, staff; but cf. also F. batte a beater (thing), wooden sword, battre to beat. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A large stick; a club; specifically, a piece of wood with one end thicker or broader than the other, used in playing baseball, cricket, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In badminton, tennis, and similar games, a racket. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. A sheet of cotton used for filling quilts or comfortables; batting. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A part of a brick with one whole end; a brickbat. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

5. (Mining) Shale or bituminous shale. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A stroke; a sharp blow. [ Colloq. or Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

7. A stroke of work. [ Scot. & Prov. Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

8. Rate of motion; speed. [ Colloq. ] “A vast host of fowl . . . making at full bat for the North Sea.” Pall Mall Mag. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. A spree; a jollification. [ Slang, U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

10. Manner; rate; condition; state of health. [ Scot. & Prov. Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Bat bolt (Machinery), a bolt barbed or jagged at its butt or tang to make it hold the more firmly. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Batted p. pr. & vb. n. Batting. ] To strike or hit with a bat or a pole; to cudgel; to beat. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To use a bat, as in a game of baseball; when used with a numerical postmodifier it indicates a baseball player's performance (as a decimal) at bat; as, he batted .270 in 1993 (i.e. he got safe hits in 27 percent of his official turns at bat). [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. & i. 1. To bate or flutter, as a hawk. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To wink. [ Local, U. S. & Prov Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Corrupt. from OE. back, backe, balke; cf. Dan. aften-bakke (aften evening), Sw. natt-backa (natt night), Icel. leðr-blaka (leðr leather), Icel. blaka to flutter. ] (Zool.) One of the Chiroptera, an order of flying mammals, in which the wings are formed by a membrane stretched between the elongated fingers, legs, and tail. The common bats are small and insectivorous. See Chiroptera and Vampire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silent bats in drowsy clusters cling. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bat tick (Zool.), a wingless, dipterous insect of the genus Nycteribia, parasitic on bats. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Abbrev. from debatable. ] Disputable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The border land between England and Scotland, being formerly a subject of contention, was called batable or debatable ground. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Embattled. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] 1. A cofferdam. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mil.) A wall built across the ditch of a fortification, with a sluice gate to regulate the height of water in the ditch on both sides of the wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖‖ } n. An aboriginal American name for the sweet potato (Ipomæa batatas). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to the Batavi, an ancient Germanic tribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to Batavia or Holland; as, a Batavian legion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Batavian Republic, the name given to Holland by the French after its conquest in 1795. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A native or inhabitant of Batavia or Holland. [ R. ] Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Baseball) A boy who holds the bats and presents the bat to a batter when the batter is going to the batter's box to bat. The batboy sometimes also keeps other team equipment. [ PJC ]