from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated.
--Macaulay.
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2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to
fail; as, a writ abates.
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{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.
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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.
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