Posted by Peter Ceresole on August 31, 2003 at -1:09:03 from 80.177.22.49 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: usage of word: "BATE" posted by John Nichols on August 30, 2003 at 21:50:01:
It basically means the opposite to abate
Being in a bate has always, as far as I know, meant being in a state, being angry. It's not exactly current useage, but it's not all that uncommon. I was surprised to discover here that it's used only once in AR's books, as I'd have expected it to crop up far more often.