Abate vs Unbend - What's the difference?

abate | unbend | Related terms |

Abate is a related term of unbend.

As a noun abate

is .

As a verb unbend is

to free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen.

abate

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) abaten, from (etyl) . Cognate to modern French abattre .

Verb

(abat)

(transitive, obsolete, outside, legal) To put an end to; to cause to cease.

to abate a nuisance

To become null and void.

The writ has abated .

(legal) To nullify; make void.

to abate a writ

(obsolete) To humble; to lower in status; to bring someone down physically or mentally.

The hyer that they were in this present lyf, the moore shulle they be abated and defouled in helle.

(obsolete) To be humbled; to be brought down physically or mentally.

(obsolete) To curtail; to deprive.

Order restrictions and prohibitions to abate an emergency situation.

* 1605 , , King Lear , II.ii:

She hath abated me of half my train.

To reduce in amount, size, or value.

Legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in proportion, upon a deficiency of assets.

His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated .

To decrease in size, value, or amount.

To moderate; to lessen in force, intensity, to subside.

* 1597 , , [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/575 Essays or Counsels, Civil and Morall] :

Not that they feel it so, but only to abate the edge of envy.

* 1855 , , History of England from the Accession of James II, Part 3 , [http://books.google.com/books?id=MN5CNdgbSTYC&pg=PA267 page 267]:

The fury of Glengarry rapidly abated .

To decrease in intensity or force; to subside.

* :

To deduct or omit.

We will abate this price from the total.

* 1845 , , The Church History of Britain , Volume 3, [http://books.google.com/books?id=OfefAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA100 page 100]:

Allowing nine thousand parishes (abating the odd hundreds) in England and Wales

To bar or except.

Abating his brutality, he was a very good master.

To cut away or hammer down, in such a way as to leave a figure in relief, as a sculpture, or in metalwork.

(obsolete) To dull the edge or point of; to blunt.

(archaic) To destroy, or level to the ground.

* 1542 , , The Union of the Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and York :

The kynge of Scottes planted his siege before the castell of Norham, and sore abated the walls.

Synonyms

* (bring down or reduce) lessen; diminish; contract; moderate; cut short; decrease * (diminish in force or intensity) diminish; subside; decline; wane; ebb * (bring someone down) humble; depress * (come to naught) fall through; fail

Antonyms

* augment; accelerate; intensify; rise; revive

Derived terms

* abatable * abatement * abater * unabated * abate of

Noun

(en noun)

Abatement.

Etymology 2

From (etyl) abatre, an alteration of enbatre, from (etyl) en + .

Verb

(abat)

(legal) To enter a tenement without permission after the owner has died and before the heir takes possession.

Etymology 4

From (etyl) abate, from (etyl) .

Alternative forms

* abbate

Noun

(en noun)

An Italian abbot, or other member of the clergy.

References

* * ----

unbend

English

Verb

To free from flexure; to make, or allow to become, straight; to loosen.

to unbend a bow

To remit from a strain or from exertion; to set at ease for a time; to relax.

to unbend the mind from study or care

* Shakespeare

You do unbend your noble strength.

To unfasten, as sails, from the spars or stays to which they are attached for use.

To cast loose or untie, as a rope.

To cease to be bent; to become straight or relaxed.

To relax in exertion, attention, severity, or the like; hence, to indulge in mirth or amusement.

*1918 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), Chapter VI

*:He spent the afternoon shaping a swagger-stick from the branch of jarrah and talking with Miss La Rue, who had sufficiently unbent toward him to notice his existence.