/ əˈbeɪt; NAmE / verb
( formal ) to become less strong; to make sth less strong :
[ v ]
The storm showed no signs of abating.
[ vn ]
Steps are to be taken to abate pollution.
► abate·ment noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the legal sense): from Old French abatre to fell, from a- (from Latin ad to, at) + batre to beat (from Latin battere , battuere to beat).