WordGarden.iobate
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈeɪt/
US
- /ˈbeɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to restrain or lessen, especially in the phrase bate one's breath
of a tethered hawk or falcon, to beat its wings and struggle to get free
Beyond the definition
To bate (a poetic form of abate) means to reduce intensity, strength, or force—like a storm’s wind easing after the worst, or anger cooling once you realize a mistake was unintentional. It also means to restrain or hold back, most famously seen in the phrase with bated breath, where someone waits in suspense with controlled tension. Think of it as dialing something down with intention.
The word has an old-fashioned, literary tone. Shakespeare used this form in several places, sometimes to describe someone who is "bating his pride" and thereby lowering his arrogance. It is an aphetic form of abate, and both descend from Old French roots tied to striking down or reducing.
The word bate carries a subtle nuance of lessening, diminishing, or holding back an emotion, force, or quality. It is not usually about stopping something, but about reducing its sharpness or force. For instance, one could say, "The storm finally began to bate, losing its bite," or "She bated her breath" to show deliberate, tense control while waiting for a result.
Historically, bate has a few specialized meanings. In falconry, it can describe a hawk "bating"—beating its wings violently as it tries to launch from the perch. In tanning, it refers to a method of treating hides to soften them. At its core, the word comes from Old French abattre, meaning "to beat down" or "reduce."
As a verb, it implies an active effort to moderate. You might "bate your claims"—that is, present them less forcefully—or "bate expectations" to avoid overpromising. While modern speech mostly uses lessen or moderate instead, bate still appears in literature and formal writing where a compact, old-fashioned sense is wanted. It suggests controlled reduction: a measured retreat of temper, force, or intensity.
So, when you want to describe a gradual decline in intensity or someone intentionally holding back strong feelings, bate fits well. It is a word of subtle shifts and careful restraint.
Examples
- 1
Anxious waiting
We waited with bated breath for the final results.
- Phrasewith bated breath
feeling very anxious or excited while waiting
- 2
Personal news
She opened the email with bated breath, hoping for good news.
- 3
Sports suspense
Fans watched the last penalty kick with bated breath.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bateverb
Forms
- batesverb
- batedpast tenseverb
- bating-ing formverb