1. (n.) A temporary subsidence of a disease or of pain\, as distinguished from intermission, in which the disease completely leaves the patient for a time; abatement.

2. (n.) The act of remitting, surrendering, resigning, or giving up.

3. (n.) Discharge from that which is due; relinquishment of a claim, right, or obligation; pardon of transgression; release from forfeiture, penalty, debt, etc.

4. (n.) Diminution of intensity; abatement; relaxation.

5. (n.) The act of sending back.

6. (n.) Act of sending in payment, as money; remittance.

abatement abeyance absolution acquittal acquittance allayment alleviation amnesty assuagement attrition blunting break caesura calming catabasis cease-fire clearance clearing collapse compurgation crash curtailment cut cutting damping day off deadening deceleration declension decline decline and fall decrease decrement decrescendo deliverance demulsion depletion depreciation derogation destigmatization destigmatizing detraction diminuendo diminution dip discharge disculpation dismissal disparagement dive downtrend downturn drop dulcification dulling dwindling easing ebb ebbing exculpation excuse exemption exoneration extraction fall falling-off forgiveness grace hesitation holiday hushing immunity impairment indemnity indulgence interim interlude intermezzo intermission intermittence interruption interval lapse layoff leniency lessening letdown letup lightening loosening lull lulling mitigation modulation mollification pacification palliation pardon pause plunge purgation purging quietening quieting quietus quittance recess redemption reduction relaxation release remission of sin reprieve respite rest retraction retreat retrenchment shortening shrift shrinkage slackening slowdown slump softening soothing sparing stand-down stay subduement subsidence suspension tempering tranquilization truce truncation vacation verdict of acquittal vindication wane