To become less intense or widespread; to decrease in force, amount, or degree. Often describes the reduction of something unpleasant like pain, anger, or storms.
From Old French 'abatre' meaning 'to beat down', from Latin 'battere' (to beat). The prefix 'ab-' means away, so it literally means to beat something away or down until it diminishes.
Think 'a-BATE' - like you're batting away a problem until it gets smaller! The storm abates when nature stops 'batting' you with wind and rain.
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