Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To moderate, restrain, or lessen the force or intensity of something: To reduce something, such as a feeling, a quality, or an action.
   • To soak (hides or skins) in a special solution to soften them and remove chemicals: A technical term in leatherworking.

2. Verb (intransitive, archaic/falconry):

   • To flap the wings wildly or frantically: Used specifically to describe the action of a hawk or falcon beating its wings, often when it is trying to escape from the perch.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (to moderate/lessen):
  • He bated his breath when talking about this affair. (He held or restrained his breath.)
  • She was capable of bating her enthusiasm to avoid seeming too eager.
• Verb (leatherworking):
  • The tanner will bate the hides and skins to prepare them for tanning.
• Verb (falconry):
  • The falcon bated from the falconer's fist, its wings flapping furiously.

Advanced Usage

• "With bated breath": This is the most common modern idiom using "bate." It means in a state of anxious or excited anticipation, holding one's breath. It is a fixed phrase; the verb "bate" is almost never used in other contexts in everyday modern English.
  • The audience waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.

Variants and Related Words

• Abate (verb): To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity. This is a much more common word in modern English and is related in meaning to the "lessen" sense of "bate."
  • The storm began to abate.
• Debate (noun/verb): While not a direct variant, it shares the etymological root related to "beat down" or "fight."

Synonyms

• For "moderate/lessen": Reduce, diminish, restrain, moderate, dampen, curb.
• For "soak hides": Treat, steep, soak.
• For "flap wings": Flutter, beat, thrash.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Phrases

• "Bate an ace" (archaic idiom): To make the slightest concession or reduction.
  • He would not bate an ace of his demands.

Related Idioms

• "With bated breath": In a state of anxious or excited suspense.
  • We listened to the final score with bated breath.
• "Go into a bate" (British, informal/dated slang): To fly into a rage.
  • He went into a bate when he saw the mess.

Verb

1. soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals used in previous treatments
   • bate hides and skins
2. flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons
3. moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
   • He bated his breath when talking about this affair
   • capable of bating his enthusiasm