VERB (3)

1. moderate or restrain; lessen the force of;
- Example: "He bated his breath when talking about this affair"
- Example: "capable of bating his enthusiasm"

2. flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons;

3. soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals used in previous treatments;
- Example: "bate hides and skins"

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grainer \Grain"er\ (gr[=a]n"[~e]r), n.
   1. An infusion of pigeon's dung used by tanners to neutralize
      the effects of lime and give flexibility to skins; --
      called also grains and bate.
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   2. A knife for taking the hair off skins.
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   3. One who paints in imitation of the grain of wood, marble,
      etc.; also, the brush or tool used in graining.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, v. i. [F. battre des ailes to flutter. Cf. Bait
   to flutter.]
   To flutter as a hawk; to bait. [Obs.] --Bacon.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, n. (Jewish Antiq.)
   See 2d Bath.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, n. [Cf. Sw. beta maceration, soaking, G. beize, and
   E. bite.]
   An alkaline solution consisting of the dung of certain
   animals; -- employed in the preparation of hides; grainer.
   --Knight.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, v. t.
   To steep in bate, as hides, in the manufacture of leather.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bated; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Bating.] [From abate.]
   1. To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to
      abate; to beat down; to lower.
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            He must either bate the laborer's wages, or not
            employ or not pay him.                --Locke.
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   2. To allow by way of abatement or deduction.
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            To whom he bates nothing of what he stood upon with
            the parliament.                       --South.
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   3. To leave out; to except. [Obs.]
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            Bate me the king, and, be he flesh and blood,
            He lies that says it.                 --Beau. & Fl.
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   4. To remove. [Obs.]
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            About autumn bate the earth from about the roots of
            olives, and lay them bare.            --Holland.
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   5. To deprive of. [Obs.]
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            When baseness is exalted, do not bate
            The place its honor for the person's sake.
                                                  --Herbert.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, v. i.
   1. To remit or retrench a part; -- with of.
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            Abate thy speed, and I will bate of mine. --Dryden.
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   2. To waste away. [Obs.] --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, v. t.
   To attack; to bait. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\, n. [Prob. abbrev. from debate.]
   Strife; contention. [Obs.] --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bate \Bate\,
   imp. of Bite. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

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