v.
Pronunciation: ' b ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: bat · ed ; bat · ing
Etymology: Middle English, short for abaten to abate
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1 : to reduce the force or intensity of : RESTRAIN <with bated breath>
2 : to take away : DEDUCT
3 archaic : to lower especially in amount or estimation
4 archaic : BLUNT
intransitive verb obsolete : DIMINISH , DECREASE