Abaters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To those who lessen or diminish something
2. individuals or entities that reduce the intensity or amount of a particular effect
3. agents that bring about a decrease in value or significance

Etymology: "Abaters" is simply the plural of "abater," which is a noun formed in English from the verb "abate" and the agent suffix "-er," meaning one who or that which does the action. "Abate" came into Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French "abatre," meaning to beat down or knock down, built from "a-" (to) and "batre" (to beat), which in turn traces back to Latin "battuere." The sense of lowering or diminishing in strength grew naturally from that physical idea of beating something down. Because "abater" is a plain agent noun, its meaning follows directly from the verb: an abater is whatever brings something down in intensity or amount. The plural simply names more than one such agent, so "abaters" refers to several things or people that each lessen some effect.

Synonyms: diminishers, reducers, lesseners, mitigators, moderators

Antonyms: increasers, intensifiers, amplifiers, augmenters, enhancers