[bate] vb bat.ed ; bat.ing [ME, short for abaten to abate] vt (14c) 1: to reduce the force or intensity of: restrain "with bated breath"
2: to take away: deduct 3 archaic: to lower esp. in amount or estimation
4. archaic: blunt ~ vi, obs: diminish, decrease
[2]bate vi bat.ed ; bat.ing [ME, fr. MF batre to beat, fr. L battuere] (14c) of a falcon or hawk: to attempt to fly off something (as a gauntlet) in fear