Cunning linguists
Is bate a word?
Elisheva · 10/10/2015 20:03
It appeared on DS's spelling list last week. I wrote a note at the bottom to ask the teacher what it meant and he replied: to moderate or restrain, as in wait with bated breath or to lessen or diminish, abate.
But is bate in itself a word?
Mrsmorton · 10/10/2015 20:08
I usually look these things up in the dictionary, occasionally I google them. [radical]
BoreOfWhabylon · 10/10/2015 20:09
Yes, old-fashioned word for temper.
Also something to do with falconry, used as a verb then though - hawks bate, apparently (think it means flap their wings)
Not aware of the teacher's version though.
BikeRunSki · 10/10/2015 20:12
A bate is a sulky temper tantrum.
Or, as a verb, it's to restrain something with force/effort "bated breath".
Floggingmolly · 10/10/2015 20:12
It's means something like getting into a tizz, doesn't it? Not quite a temper tantrum, but sort of low level moodiness.
Floggingmolly · 10/10/2015 20:13
If it was on a spelling list; it very probably should have been bait...
dementedpixie · 10/10/2015 20:17
From my dictionary app:
Bate
—verb (used with object), bat·ed, bat·ing.
to moderate or restrain: unable to bate our enthusiasm.
to lessen or diminish; abate: setbacks that bated his hopes.
Elisheva · 10/10/2015 20:23
It was as a homophone with bate. I did google it, but got the old English word for angry definition.
Not an especially useful word for an 8 year old!
IguanaTail · 26/10/2015 14:11
We used to say "he's in a bate" meaning a mood, in the 90s.
magimedi · 26/10/2015 14:13
"In a bate" or" batey-batey" was used about someone being cross when I was at school - 1960's.
And I am sure bate is used in that way in How to be Topp!
BertrandRussell · 26/10/2015 14:14
Old fashioned slang for in a temper. Hawks do it- it's a falconry word. And the teacher is right- it also means restrain. But it's pretty ancient!
hels71 · 12/11/2015 22:08
Definitely a falconary word....as any Antonia forest fan would know!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.