Verb

(es)

To end a law, system, institution, custom or practice.

Slavery was abolished in the nineteenth century.

* 2002', William Schabas, ''The '''abolition of the death penalty in international law (Cambridge University Press):

(archaic) To put an end to or destroy, as a physical object; to wipe out.

* :

And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot.

* :

His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him.

Verb

(en verb)

To make less; to diminish; to reduce.

* Calamy

Charity shall lessen his punishment.

* Atterbury

St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 16 , author=Denis Campbell , title=Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients' , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Many hospitals have not taken simple steps to lessen the distress and confusion which dementia sufferers' often feel on being somewhere so unfamiliar – such as making signs large and easy to read, using colour schemes to help patients find their way around unfamiliar wards and not putting family mementoes such as photographs nearby.}}

To become less.