A word a day.

I'm sorry that I've been tardy in my posts. A list of words for your reference.

abate \uh-BAYT\, verb:
1. to make or become less in force or intensity; decrease or diminish2. to be at an end; become null and void3. to deduct from something; reduce

Chicago law requires the landlord to abate lead paint hazards and provides fines up to $500 for each violation.-- Ed Sacks, Lead and asbestos worry mom, Chicago Sun-Times, July 14, 2004

Still, behind the scenes, he was desperately trying to cajole support from colleagues warily assessing whether the perfect storm that had engulfed him would abate--or sweep him into oblivion.-- Howard Fineman, Ghosts Of The Past, Newsweek, December 22, 1998

addle \AD-'l\, verb:
1. to make or become muddled or confused2. to make or become rotten or putrid

As TV audiences saw, it was enough to addle Fellow Oscar Winner Jon Voight's brain for the rest of the night.-- Frank Rich, Pros at Play, Time, May 6, 1975

United Nations troops waited to take up their posts as guards to ensure that no liquor, women or bribe money was smuggled in to addle the judgment of the Deputies.-- Empty Campus, Time, July 13, 1957

You'd think you'd have to be seriously dumb to be fooled in this way but there's undeniably something about residential property, whether an investment or simply a family home, that can addle the brains of otherwise quite sensible people.-- Liz Dolan, Money surgery: keep property out of pensions, Daily Telegraph, May 17, 2001

epicure \EP-ih-kyur\, noun:
1. a person who enjoys eating and drinking and who is very particular in choosing fine foods and beverages; gourmet 2. a person who is fond of luxury and pleasure

The journalists, bloggers, chefs and others who make up the Fat Pack combine an epicure's appreciation for skillful cooking with a glutton's bottomless-pit approach.-- Kim Severson, The Fat Pack Wonders if the Party's Over, New York Times, March 18, 2004

While taking courses at City College in the late 1930's, he became active in its Young Communist League, where he stood out as the only black person, as a talented organizer and as an epicure who introduced his comrades to good wines, cheeses and pates.-- Alan Brinkley, One Was a Multitude, New York Times, March 1, 1993

As a confirmed epicure, I have eaten just about every meat acceptable in the Western world.-- Robert V. Camuto, My Verona, Washington Post, May 3, 2004