abate

abate (v.) to lessen or reduce

 

for your edification:  Okay.  And, sorry in advance.  So, the way I always remembered this word is because of its not-that-innocent ending – “bate.”  Remember the first time that kid on the back of the bus told you what the word “masturbate” meant and you were all embarrassed, and then a little shocked, then confused, and then you laughed?  Well, we’re gonna use that word, “masturbate,” and use (and abuse) it to help us remember the definition of abate.  In fact, instead of saying “masturbate”, why don’t we just starting calling that dirty little act “’bate” - or “the ‘bate -  instead?  Like, "Hey, Kent.  Everybody used to call your house 'Kent's house', but now we call it 'Spankquarters' on account of all the time you spend there devoted to 'the bate.'"  And, for our candy-coated land of SAT dreams, let’s agree that folks generally need to lessen the amount of time they spend on a ‘bate (for productivity’s sake, eh?).   Yeah.  Because abate means to lessen or reduce.  If Kent lessened the amount of time he spent on the bate, his house wouldn't be called Spankquarters.  But he hasn't, and it is.  Easy.

examplification -  Rodrigo:  Did you hear that  Skinny Jim’s mom walked in on him ‘bating again?

Carl:  Dude.  No.  That's like the fifth time or something, right? 

Rodrigo:  The seventh.  She said if he didn’t abate the amount of time he spent on the ‘bate, then he was gonna grow hair all over his palms and then Little Skinny Jim would shrivel up and fall off.  

Carl:  Oh, yeah.  The old "your wang'll fall off" legend.  Did it work?

Rodrigo:  Yeah.  He's totally reduced the time spent on his ‘bating.  

Carl:  Thank God.

* editor’s note:  I told you we were gonna get a little dirty up in here sometimes.  If your mom is shocked, kindly remind her that she didn’t have to shell out $55 bucks an hour to pay for an SAT tutor.  Also, tell her that you need a snack.