Middle English Dictionary Entry
abātement n.
Entry Info
| Forms | abātement n. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Lessening, loss; (b) impairment, infringement; (c) lowering (of prices), depreciation; deficiency, as in the weight of a coin; a deduction for light weight; (d) law the quashing of a suit or writ.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)171 : What euer þing is to vs profitable þou maist putte vpon vs wiþout abatement or peirement of þi love to us.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.278 : Ʒit held þe kyng of France Gascoyn with outrage,..For þat abatement he [Edward] chalenges it þorgh right.
c
- (1421) RParl.4.151a : And wolle paie or paieth his seid duete to the seide Collectours..by due pois of the noble therof made, wyth due abatements of the same.
- (1433) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)161 : Some in þis Cite have þe grete cours of selling of merchaundises to straungiers..in grete abatement of þe prises of alle chaffare.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)5 : A-batement, or wythdrawynge of mete [KC: wyghte] or mesure or other thyngys: Subtractio, defalcatio.
d
- [ a1350 Ipswich Domesday(1) (Add 25012)44 : Mes si nul se abate par disseysine en autri fraunke tenement en la dite vile dementers qe le disseysi seyt en prisoun, ou hors de memore, ou hors des quatre mers Dengletere, en chescun de ces treys cas eyt le disseysi soun recourir vers le disseyssour par pleynte de abatement. ]
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)25 : In alle other plees..shulden ben allowed iij essoynes..owt take in plee of fressh abatement and in plee of nusance.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)79 : He leseth avauntage to recuren eny thyng in tho tenementz be pleint of abatement.
- (1449) RParl.5.169a : Yf the same Robert..plede any plee or plees in barr of the accyon or in abatemente of the bille, billes, or writte.