| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Abate (2 syl.) | | |
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means properly to knock down. (French, abattre, whence a battue, i.e., wholesale destruction of game; O.E. a beátan.) | 1 |
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Abate, in horsemanship, is to perform well the downward motion. A horse is said to abate when, working upon curvets, he puts or beats down bòth his hind legs to the ground at once, and keeps exact time. | 2 |
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