BATE

I. verb (~d; bating) Etymology: Middle English, short for a~n to a~ Date: 14th century transitive verb to reduce the force or intensity of ; restrain , to take away ; deduct , to lower especially in amount or estimation, blunt , intransitive verb diminish , decrease , II. intransitive verb (~d; bating) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French batre to beat, from Latin battuere Date: 14th century to attempt to fly off something (as a gauntlet) in fear