abatement

From Middle French abatement, from Old French abatre[1]. Equivalent to abate (“to beat down”) +‎ -ment (“the result of”).

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• (US, UK) IPA^(key): /əˈbeɪt.mənt/

abatement (countable and uncountable, plural abatements)

1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; a moderation; removal or putting an end to; the suppression of. [First attested from 1340 to 1470.][2][1]

   The abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof.

2. The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction; deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed; in particular from a tax. [Late 15^th century.][2]
3. (heraldry) A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon; any figure added to the coat of arms tending to lower the dignity or station of the bearer.[3][Early 17^th century.][2]

allowance, assuagement, declension, decline, decrease, deduction, depreciation, diminution, discount, drawback, ebb, evanishment, fading, lessening, lowering, mitigation, moderation, rebate, reduction, remission, settling, sinking, subsidence, waning

accession, accretion, aggrandizement, augmentation, development, dilation, enlargement, growth, increase, increment,

• defense in abatement
• plea in abatement

From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman abatre (“to abate”) + -ment.[3]

abatement (countable and uncountable, plural abatements)

1. (law) The action of a person that abates, or without proper authority enters a residence after the death of the owner and before the heir takes possession.[3]
2. (law) The reduction of the proceeds of a will, when the debts have not yet been satisfied; the reduction of taxes due.[4][First attested around 1150 to 1350.][2]

• The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at