Definitions
Wiktionary
- adj. Reduced; lowered; restrained; as, to speak with bated breath.
- v. simple past tense and past participle of bate.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Reduced; lowered; restrained.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. diminished or moderated
Examples
“We also want capital-and I say this in bated breath and whispered humbleness, for there is not altogether lacking some symptom of that kind here.”
“You knew about "bated" breath but I doubt you have a source for this.”
“I can't believe someone actually knows how to spell 'bated' breath.”
“GILLIS: Well, clearly, since the pope is feeble and in the twilight of his papacy, there's a kind of bated breath about who might be the next pope.”
“In your delusional mind the world waits with bated breath for your next revelation and tweet.”
“I can almost see the 'bated breath' of the non-contributing, and quite frankly, flat-out lying detractors on this site waiting for Obama to make a significant mistake.”
“Now I wait with bated breath for the push to repeal DADT! bdbd says:”
“Now I wait with bated breath for the push to repeal DADT!”
“She was looking on with bated breath, leaning slightly forward, so keen was her interest, one hand pressed to her breast, her cheek flushed, and in her eyes a great and amazed admiration.”
“One afternoon he went out with Arthur to the University of California, and, with bated breath and a feeling of religious awe, went through the laboratories, saw demonstrations, and listened to a physics professor lecturing to his classes.”
Lists
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pjlueck "Sally, having swallowed cheese,
Directs down holes the scented breeze,
Enticing thus with baited breath
Nice mice to an untimely death."
by Geoffrey Taylor
Now, I know this doesn't really help with "bated...," but it is SUCH a beautiful piece...!! Apr 16, 2009
gangerh 'Come one and all, both great and small,
With voices loud and clear,
And let us sing "Bless Billy the King",
Who bated the tax upon beer.' Sep 25, 2008