1583 R. P. tr. P. de la Sierra Second Pt. Myrror of Knighthood i. xxi. f. 119^v The Knight of the Sunne..the abater and breaker [Sp. domador] of the strength of the most strongest Giants in all the world.

1609 W. M. Man in Moone sig. C1^v He [sc. the Tobackonist, i.e. a smoker] is his owne strengths enfeebler..his appetites abater.

1683 Lady Russell Lett. (1773) x. 14 Time, or necessity, the ordinary abater of all violent passions.

1732 J. Arbuthnot Pract. Rules of Diet i. 263 Abaters of Acrimony or Sharpness.

1839 New Monthly Mag. 57 538 It is not..with the remotest intention of reflecting on the abaters of the dog-cart nuisance.

1879 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 256/1 Shams and lies are very bad things, and whoever abates them does the world a service; but the abaters..are no more deserving of its gratitude than is a renowned artist or sculptor.

1908 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 2 549/2 Having settled the question of cooking, the ardent smoke abater will say to himself, What can I do with my sitting and bedrooms?

1982 Cambr. Law Jrnl. 41 104 Some reach the conclusion that liability should be placed on the best abater of the nuisance.

2008 Australian (Nexis) 15 Dec. 8 The Government's philosophy is to move from benefiting the abater to taxing the emitter.

1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme i. viii. 20 Nor is it sufficient grounds to diffide to the strength of this Argument, because our fancy can shuffle in this Abater, viz. That indeed this Idea of God..shews us that his Existence is necessary, but it does not shew us that he doth necessarily exist.

1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness i. vi. 17 It being a great abater to our zeal and fervency in Religion to think that in the end of our life we shall be dodged and put off by a long senseless and comfortless Sleepe of the Soul under the sods of the Grave.