different between abatement vs attenuation

English

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• (US, UK) IPA^(key): /??be?t.m?nt/

Noun

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.]

   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.]
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.[Early 17^th century.]

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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

Derived terms

• defense in abatement
• plea in abatement

Translations

Etymology 2

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

Noun

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.
2. (law) The reduction of the proceeds of a will, when the debts have not yet been satisfied; the reduction of taxes due.[First attested around 1150 to 1350.]

References

• The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at [1]

English

Etymology

From Middle English attenuacioun, a borrowing from Latin attenu?ti? (“a diminishing”). Equivalent to attenuate +? -ion.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

attenuation (countable and uncountable, plural attenuations)

1. A gradual diminishing of strength.
2. (physics) A reduction in the level of some property with distance, especially the amplitude of a wave or the strength of a signal.
3. (biology) A weakening in the virulence of a pathogen or other microorganism.
4. (botany) The tapering of a leaf etc to a fine point.
5. (engineering) A fabrication process in which a material is stretched out into a thin shape.
6. (homeopathy) The reduction of the active principles of medicines to minute doses.
7. (brewing) The proportion of sugar that is converted to ethanol by a yeast.

Derived terms

Related terms

• attenuate
• tenuous
• thin

Translations