diminish
131Spoliative — Spo li*a*tive (sp[=o] l[i^]*[asl]*t[i^]v), a. [Cf. F. spoliatif.] Serving to take away, diminish, or rob; esp. (Med.), serving to diminish sensibly the amount of blood in the body; as, spoliative bloodletting. [1913 Webster] …
132To abate a tax — Abate A*bate ([.a]*b[=a]t ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abated}, p. pr. & vb. n. {Abating}.] [OF. abatre to beat down, F. abattre, LL. abatere; ab or ad + batere, battere (popular form for L. batuere to beat). Cf. {Bate}, {Batter}.] 1. To beat down; to …