ABATEMENT (O. F. lessening, from Lat. a, away + bat Herr, to beat). A term used in various senses in the common law of England and the United States, as follows: (1) Abatement of Freehold. The unlawful entry upon and taking possession of an estate of inheritance by a stranger after the death of the aneestor and before the heir or devisee has become seized of the estate by entry. See FREEHOLD; SEISI N. (2) .tba lenient of \''itisances. A remedy against injury by nuisance by removal of the nuisance. See NUISANCE. (3) Plea in Abatement. A plead ing interposed by the defendant to the plain tiff's complaint or declaration by which the defendant. on some formal and technical ground, seeks to abate or quash the action. if sustained it does not determine the merits of the contro versy, but requires the plaintiff to begin his action anew. See A CTION : PLEADING. (4) Abate went of Legacies. A reduction of the amount of legacies when the estate of the testator is insuf ficient to pay debts and legacies in full. See
LEGACY. (5) Abate/neat of Snit. Suspension of proceedings in a suit in Chancery for want of proper parties to proceed with the suit. Abate ment may result from the death, change of interest of a party, or marriage of the plaintiff, if a woman. After abatement the suit may be revived and proceeded with by the legal repre sentative of the deceased party, or by the hus band of the plaintiff, if a woman. Action at law when abated could not be revived as in equity. This, however, is now permitted by statute. See article on ACTION. (6) Abatement or discount ill commercial law. (7) Abatement or deduction of duties levied by the custom house. See articles on CUSTOMS Diuw BACK. ( S ) Abatement or reduction of taxes imposed on any person. Regulated wholly by statute. See TAX.