bate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
    • He bated his breath when talking about this affair
    • capable of bating his enthusiasm
  2. verb flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons
  3. verb soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals used in previous treatments
    • bate hides and skins

WordNet

Bate noun
Etymology
Prob. abbrev. from debate.
Definitions
  1. Strife; contention. Obs. Shak.
Bate transitive verb
Etymology
From abate.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bated; present participle & verbal noun Bating
Definitions
  1. To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to abate; to beat down; to lower.
    He must either bate the laborer's wages, or not employ or not pay him. Locke.
  2. To allow by way of abatement or deduction.
    To whom he bates nothing or what he stood upon with the parliament. South.
  3. To leave out; to except. Obs.
    Bate me the king, and, be he flesh and blood. He lies that says it. Beau. & Fl.
  4. To remove. Obs.
    About autumn bate the earth from about the roots of olives, and lay them bare. Holland.
  5. To deprive of. Obs.
    When baseness is exalted, do not bate The place its honor for the person's sake. Herbert.
Bate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To remit or retrench a part; -- with of.
    Abate thy speed, and I will bate of mine. Dryden.
  2. To waste away. Obs. Shak.
Bate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To attack; to bait. Obs. Spenser.
Bate imperfect
Definitions
  1. of Bite. Obs. Spenser.
Bate intransitive verb
Etymology
F. battre des ailes to flutter. Cf. Bait to flutter.
Definitions
  1. To flutter as a hawk; to bait. Obs. Bacon.
Bate noun
Definitions
  1. (Jewish Antiq.) See 2d Bath.
Bate noun
Etymology
Cf. Sw. beta maceration, soaking, G. beize, and E. bite.
Definitions
  1. An alkaline solution consisting of the dung of certain animals; -- employed in the preparation of hides; grainer. Knight.
Bate transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To steep in bate, as hides, in the manufacture of leather.

Webster 1913