bate
1 of 2verb (1)
ˈbāt 
bated; bating
transitive verb
1
: to reduce the force or intensity of : restrain
waited with bated breath
2
: to take away : deduct
That grave and orderly senior was not going to bate a jot of his dignity …
George Eliot
George Eliot3
archaic : to lower especially in amount or estimation
And I shall have to bate my price … A. E. Housman
A. E. Housman4
archaic : blunt
And now I have bated your curiosity … J. F. Cooper
J. F. Cooperintransitive verb
obsolete : diminish, decrease
The wind is bating.
bate
2 of 2verb (2)
bated; bating
intransitive verb
of a falcon or hawk
: to attempt to fly off something (such as a gauntlet) in fear
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, short for abaten to abate
Verb (2)
Middle English, from Middle French batre to beat, from Latin battuere
First Known Use
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
bate
verb
ˈbāt
bated; bating
: to reduce the force or intensity of
… with parted lips and bated breath the audience hung upon his words … Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyerdebates 1 of 2
noun
1
as in deliberations
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- deliberations
- considerations
- studies
- thoughts
- reflections
- accounts
- ruminations
- contemplations
- cogitations
- advisements
- meditations
- hesitations
- introspections
- indecisions
- premeditations
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- short shrifts
2
as in controversies
variance of opinion on a matter there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs Synonyms & Similar Words
- controversies
- disputations
- disputes
- disagreements
- contestations
- differences
- dissentions
- firestorms
- arguments
- contentions
- dissensions
- difficulties
- clashes
- conflictions
- conflicts
- quarrels
- nonconcurrences
- fights
- dissensuses
- struggles
- discords
- dissonances
- collisions
- altercations
- misunderstandings
- bickers
- strifes
- divisions
- divarications
- combats
- disaccords
- falling-outs
- kickups
- fallings-out
- set-tos
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- agreements
- consensuses
- harmonies
- accords
- acceptances
- compliances
- unanimities
- concords
- peaces
3
as in discussions
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue there was no debate over the expenditures before the vote Synonyms & Similar Words
- discussions
- consultations
- talks
- consults
- conversations
- deliberations
- arguments
- dialogues
- argumentations
- meetings
- conferences
- colloquies
- confabulations
- dialogs
- confabs
- palavers
- parleys
- seminars
- counsel
- back-and-forths
- consultancies
- chats
- symposia
- negotiations
- councils
- discourses
- roundtables
- forums
- argy-bargies
- give-and-takes
- symposiums
- chat rooms
- bull sessions
- disquisitions
- skull sessions
- fora
- talkathons
- raps
- skull practices
- round tables
- words
- pourparlers
debates
2 of 2verb
1
as in studies
to give serious and careful thought to still debating what to do Synonyms & Similar Words
- studies
- questions
- ponders
- contemplates
- entertains
- considers
- eyes
- reviews
- weighs
- explores
- cogitates
- analyzes
- deliberates
- looks at
- ruminates
- perpends
- revolves
- meditates
- chews on
- chews over
- digests
- mulls (over)
- kicks around
- reasons
- reminisces
- wrestles (with)
- thinks (about or over)
- turns
- beats one's brains out (about)
- pores (over)
- cudgels one's brains (about)
- believes
- concludes
- opines
- reflects (on or upon)
- muses (upon)
- second-guesses
- speculates (about)
- conceives
- fixates (on or upon)
- dwells (on or upon)
- absorbs
- broods (about or over)
- obsesses (about or over)
- frets (about or over)
- assimilates
- drinks (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignores
- slights
- rejects
- disregards
- overlooks
- dismisses
- poohs
- pooh-poohs
2
as in discusses
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion we debated the advantages versus the disadvantages of the proposed waterfront development Synonyms & Similar Words
- discusses
- disputes
- argues
- reviews
- canvasses
- talks over
- canvases
- moots
- bandies
- agitates
- raises
- hashes (over or out)
- talks out
- considers
- bats (around or back and forth)
- stirs up
- hammers out
- broaches
- deliberates
- propounds
- weighs
- introduces
- talks (about)
- speaks (about)
- forges
- chews over
- wrestles (with)
- thrashes (out)