- bait, bate
- "Robins exploits were listened to with baited breath" (Mailon Sunday). Unless Robins listeners were hoping to catch fish, their breath was bated. The word is a cousin of abated.
Dictionary of troublesome word. Bill Bryson. 2013.
bait, bate
Look at other dictionaries:
bait, bate — Robins exploits were listened to with baited breath (Mailon Sunday). Unless Robins listeners were hoping to catch fish, their breath was bated. The word is a cousin of abated … Dictionary of troublesome word
Bate — Bate, v. i. [F. battre des ailes to flutter. Cf. {Bait} to flutter.] To flutter as a hawk; to bait. [Obs.] Bacon. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Bate — Bate, v. t. To attack; to bait. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bate — bate1 [bāt] vt. bated, bating [ME baten, aphetic for abaten, ABATE] 1. to abate, lessen, lower, etc. 2. Archaic to deprive (of) with bated breath with the breath held in because of fear, excitement, etc. bate2 [bāt] … English World dictionary
bait — bate … American English homophones
bate — bait … American English homophones
bate — bait … English homophone dictionary
bait(s) — bate(s) … English homophone dictionary
bait — 1. n. & v. n. 1 food used to entice a prey, esp. a fish or an animal. 2 an allurement; something intended to tempt or entice. 3 archaic a halt on a journey for refreshment or a rest. 4 = BATE. v. 1 tr. a harass or annoy (a person). b torment (a… … Useful english dictionary
bate — n. (also bait) Brit. sl. a rage; a cross mood (is in an awful bate). Etymology: BAIT(1) = state of baited person … Useful english dictionary
