"to reduce, to lessen in intensity," c. 1300, shortening of abate (q.v.). Now only in phrase bated breath, which was used by Shakespeare in "The Merchant of Venice" (1596).
bate (v.2)
c. 1300, "to contend with blows or arguments," from Old French batre "to hit, beat, strike," from Late Latin battere, from Latin batuere "to beat, knock" (see batter (v.)). In falconry, "to beat the wings impatiently and flutter away from the perch." Figurative sense of "to flutter downward" attested from 1580s.
实用例句
1. Mr Harris and Mrs Bate and three other teachers were there.
哈里斯老师、贝特老师和其他三位老师在场。
来自《权威词典》
2. The cruel landlord would bate him no rent.
那个狠心的地主不肯给他减租.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
3. Even great scholars like Wang Xianqian and Liang Qichao could not stop the de bate.
甚至像王先谦、梁启超这样鼎鼎大名的学者都无法把这场论战喝止.
来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
4. Until it was time to open the presents, the children had to bate their curiosity.
孩子们只好抑制住他们的好奇心, 等待着打开礼物的时刻的到来.
来自辞典例句
5. Director bate, change policeman of a sector of an area questioningly.