1. (v. t.) To soften; to allay, mitigate, ease, or lessen pain or grief\; to appease or pacify, as passion or tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire.

2. (v. i.) To abate or subside.

abate adjust to allay alleviate alter anesthetize appease attemper bank the fire benumb blunt box in chasten circumscribe condition constrain control cushion damp dampen de-emphasize deaden deaden the pain diminish downplay dull ease ease matters extenuate feast feed foment give relief gratify hedge hedge about keep within bounds lay leaven lenify lessen lighten limit lull mitigate moderate modify modulate mollify narrow numb obtund pad palliate play down poultice pour balm into pour oil on qualify quench reduce reduce the temperature regale regulate by relieve restrain restrict salve sate satiate satisfy season set conditions set limits slacken slake slow down smother sober sober down soften soothe stifle stupe subdue suppress tame temper tone down tune down underplay weaken