Posted by Peter H on August 31, 2003 at 20:59:42 from 213.122.196.135 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: usage of word: posted by andy bolger on August 31, 2003 at 19:55:56:
‘Bate’, ‘Abate’ and ‘Debate’ all have the same root – Latin batuere = to beat. However, ‘bate’ has developed two separate meanings:
(1) (as a verb) to diminish, reduce, moderate, restrain, hold in check etc. Example: ‘with bated breath’. 'Bate’ is NOT the opposite of 'abate' but is the aphetic form of ‘abate’. (‘Aphesis’ is the process by which an unaccented vowel at the beginning of a word is gradually lost)
(2) (as a noun) strife, contention, impatience, and . . beating of wings.
(By the way, ‘bate’ also can mean a lye used in tanning. Jeez, Ed, the things I learn answering your queries!)