Etymology
1. c.1270, from O.Fr.
abattre "beat down," from L.
ad "to" +
battuere "to beat" (see batter (v.)). Secondary sense of "to fell, slaughter" is in
abatis and
abattoir.
2. From Middle English abaten, from Anglo-Norman abatre, from Late Latin abbattere, from Latin battere.
3. detailed etymology, sense derivation, and cognates
4. The verb is derived from Middle English abaten (“to demolish, knock down; to defeat, strike down; to strike or take down (a sail); to throw down; to bow dejectedly or submissively; to be dejected; to stop; to defeat, humiliate; to repeal (a law); to dismiss or quash (a lawsuit); to lessen, reduce; to injure, impair; to appease; to decline, grow less; to deduct, subtract; to make one’s way; attack (an enemy); (law) to enter or intrude upon (someone’s property); of a hawk: to beat or flap the wings”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman abater, abatier, abatre, abbatre, Middle French abattre, abatre, abattre, Old French abatre, abattre (“to demolish, knock down; to bring down, cut down; to lessen, reduce; to suppress; to stop; to discourage; to impoverish, ruin; to conquer; to overthrow; to kill; to remove (money) from circulation; (law) to annul”), from Late Latin abbattere (“to bring down, take down; to suppress; to debase (currency)”), from Latin ab- (prefix meaning ‘away; from; away from’) + Latin battere, from older battuere (“to beat, hit; to beat up; to fight”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ- (“to dig; to stab”)).
5. The noun is derived from the verb. See: Middle English '
abaten', Anglo-Norman '
abatre', Latin '
batto', Middle English '
abaten', Old French '
abatre', Latin '
batto'.
Verbs referencing "abate"
Ladino abatir, Spanish
abatir.