Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Abate \A*bate"\ ([.a]*b[=a]t"), v. i. [See {Abate}, v. t.]
   1. To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as,
      pain abates, a storm abates.

            The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to
      fail; as, a writ abates.

   {To abate into a freehold}, {To abate in lands} (Law), to
      enter into a freehold after the death of the last
      possessor, and before the heir takes possession. See
      {Abatement}, 4.

   Syn: To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish;
        lessen.

   Usage: To {Abate}, {Subside}. These words, as here compared,
          imply a coming down from some previously raised or
          excited state. Abate expresses this in respect to
          degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of
          intensity; as, the storm abates, the cold abates, the
          force of the wind abates; or, the wind abates, a fever
          abates. Subside (to settle down) has reference to a
          previous state of agitation or commotion; as, the
          waves subside after a storm, the wind subsides into a
          calm. When the words are used figuratively, the same
          distinction should be observed. If we conceive of a
          thing as having different degrees of intensity or
          strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a
          man's anger abates, the ardor of one's love abates,
          ``Winter's rage abates''. But if the image be that of
          a sinking down into quiet from preceding excitement or
          commotion, the word to be used is subside; as, the
          tumult of the people subsides, the public mind
          subsided into a calm. The same is the case with those
          emotions which are tumultuous in their nature; as, his
          passion subsides, his joy quickly subsided, his grief
          subsided into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such
          cases, we were thinking of the degree of violence of
          the emotion, we might use abate; as, his joy will
          abate in the progress of time; and so in other
          instances.

Freehold \Free"hold`\, n. (LAw)
   An estate in real property, of inheritance (in fee simple or
   fee tail) or for life; or the tenure by which such estate is
   held. --Kent. Burrill.

   {To abate into a freehold}. See under {Abate}.