Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Abate, Abait, v. Also: abaite, abbait, abaith, abeat. [ME. abate (13th c.), OF. abat-re to beat down.]

1. intr. To decline or fall off. c1420 Ratis R. 49.
Thai abate, & fallys hail fra thare estate

2. tr. To beat down, bring low, suppress or overthrow. 1570 Leslie 167.
To bow and abate the heich and wrangous hartes of the peopill c1590 Fowler I. 172/1.
The rearding thoundars highest triees abate [vr. abaite]

3. To lessen, diminish; to take off, deduct.1609 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 216 (abbaited thair courage). 1622-6 Bisset II. 357/9 (abaitted his divinitie). 1663 Lamont Diary 204 (abeatting eght yeirs annual rent). 1675 St. A. Baxter Bks. 139 (that all contraversies may be abeatit).