1. (v. t.) To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.

2. (v. t.) To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.

3. (v. i.) To become damp; to deaden.

abate abridge absorb the shock allay alleviate arrest asperge assuage attemper attenuate baffle bank the fire beat down bedew bespatter besprinkle blunt bottle up break the fall cast down chasten check chill compress constrain control cool countercheck cramp cripple curb curtail cushion cut cut back cut down dabble dam up damp dampen the spirits darken dash de-emphasize deaden deafen debilitate decrease deduct deflate deflect deject delay depreciate depress detain deter devitalize dew diminish disaffect discourage dishearten disincline disinterest dispirit distract divert douche downgrade downplay dull enervate enfeeble eviscerate exhaust extenuate gruel hinder hold back hold in check hold up hose hose down humect humectate humidify impede indispose inhibit intercept interfere intermeddle interrupt intervene irrigate keep back keep in check keep within bounds knock down lay lay low lenify lessen lighten lower lower the spirits meddle mitigate moderate modulate moisten muffle mute neutralize obtund offset oppose oppress paddle palliate pare play down press down put off quench rattle reduce reduce the temperature repel repress resist restrain retard retrench roll back sadden sap scale down scotch set back shake shake up shorten show consideration show mercy show pity simplify sink slacken slobber slop slosh slow down smother snub sober sober down soft-pedal soften soften the blow soften up sparge spatter splash splatter sponge spray sprinkle step down stifle stop subdue suppress swash syringe take from tame temper tone down tune down turn aside turn away turn from turn off unbrace undermine underplay unman unnerve unstrengthen unstring water weaken wean from weigh heavy upon weigh upon wet wet down